Erik ten Hag slams ‘unacceptable’ display as Manchester United were embarrassed by Cadiz

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was baffled by the ‘unacceptable’ performance of his team, which suffered a 4-2 defeat to Cádiz in a friendly.

The Dutchman opted to bring a large number of first-team players who did not travel to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup to Spain to keep them fit before the Premier League returns.

Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Alejandro Garnacho, Donny van de Beek, Martin Dubravka, Victor Lindelof and Scott McTominay were some of the stars who had a chance in the match.

Manchester United suffered an embarrassing 4-2 loss to Cádiz in a friendly midway through the World Cup.

Anthony Lozano (pictured, right) made it 2-0 early for Cádiz in the World Cup midway friendly.

United, however, found them 2-0 down in the early stages of the contest when Carlos García-Die Sánchez and Anthony Lozano found the back of the net.

Frenchman Martial scored from the penalty spot before Kobbie Mainoo equalized just after the break, though it was short-lived as Cádiz netted twice more to seal a comfortable win.

Boss ten Hag wasn’t happy with his team’s display, even though it was a friendly to gain valuable minutes over the winter break, and he knows they need to bring out the few positives.

Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag (pictured) was not happy with his team’s unacceptable display.

“It’s pretty clear, we weren’t awake and we were still asleep for the first 15 minutes,” ten Hag told Manchester United TV after the friendly.

We prepare them. [We knew] They are a threat in transition and we have seen the second goal. You can not pass

You are not awake. Especially in the midfield, we were deflected, that is not possible. Unacceptable.

The first goal was also. A set piece, bad organization and bad discipline in the organization, and you concede a goal.

France’s Anthony Martial (pictured) scored from the penalty spot in the first half

‘After that, we entered the game. We received a penalty, of course, and we deserve another in the second half.

“We got to the game but we couldn’t score the equalizer before the break.

‘They gave energy. They ran, they fought, maybe not always in the right organization and they made mistakes, they are not used to playing this level.”

Tomás Alarcón (pictured) scored Cádiz’s fourth goal to seal a 4-2 win over United

The former Ajax manager insists it was a “good lesson” for his team as they can learn from the mistakes they made during the friendly.

But it was a good lesson. You see that when you make small mistakes, there are big consequences and you can lose the game. That was what happened.

‘That has to be the standard always. The first 15 minutes cannot pass, it is not our standard. It shouldn’t happen.

Former Ajax manager insists it was a ‘good lesson’ for his team after making mistakes

‘We have to hit it, draw a line under it and move on. But it cannot happen in the future.

‘We are not happy with this game. Of course you have some positive aspects when you lose, but today you have more negative aspects.”

United will also face Real Betis in another friendly before returning to competitive action in the Carabao Cup against champions Burnley on Wednesday December 21, just three days after the World Cup final.

The Red Devils then return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest on December 27.