Manchester United supervisor Erik ten Hag has insisted that final blame for his staff’s newest Champions League collapse lies at his door however nonetheless admitted gamers additionally deserve criticism.
United went into Wednesday night time’s recreation in opposition to Galatasaray determined for a win after shedding three of their opening 4 group matches. Issues even began nicely after they raced right into a 2-0 lead. However Gala ended up pulling it again to 3-3 even after Scott McTominay had put United 3-1 forward.
Ten Hag’s facet led by two targets at two totally different factors of the sport and followers really feel as if they’ve seen this sample too usually in Europe this season. United misplaced the lead twice in opposition to Galatasaray at Outdated Trafford on matchday two to lose 3-2 and conceded twice within the final ten minutes in opposition to Copenhagen to in some way undergo a 4-3 defeat on matchday 4.
Solely Antwerp (15) have let in additional targets than the 14 that United have shipped in 5 video games.
“I’m answerable for this,” Ten Hag advised TNT Sports activities. “We all know we’re in a undertaking. We’re making enhancements, in order that’s very hopeful. We’re getting into the appropriate path so I do know we shall be profitable within the long-term, however if you wish to keep within the Champions League you have to win these video games.
“We had been profitable after which we’re shedding it. We must always have taken three factors, that is clear. We did this in different video games. I used to be happy with how we performed however on the identical time I’ve to criticise the staff as a result of the defending will not be ok. We’re main 3-1 and we can’t afford errors because it makes a distinction.”
“We aren’t defending ok.”
“You’ll be able to’t afford such errors we’re making.”
Erik ten Hag assesses Man Utd’s failure to carry a two-goal lead as they might solely handle a draw vs Galatasaray…#UCL | @julesbreach pic.twitter.com/qyB6wJgIoq
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) November 29, 2023
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United skipper Bruno Fernandes, additionally talking to TNT Sports activities, admitted the targets that went in had been “actually unhealthy” from his staff’s standpoint. He additionally rued missed probabilities to attain on the different finish.
“We had been on prime of the sport twice and we had far too many probabilities to have the sport closed. We weren’t scientific sufficient,” Fernandes mentioned.
“I do not need to be too detrimental. However what now we have been doing within the Champions League will not be sufficient. It’s not the primary recreation we have had like this. We’ve got to safe the consequence. We’ve got to know in all these video games and phases now we have to be good sufficient and handle the sport higher. Everybody has to step up and take duty of their very own errors.”
United can now not attain the Champions League knockout rounds on their very own advantage alone. They have to beat runaway leaders Bayern Munich at Outdated Trafford on matchday six subsequent month and hope that Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw – if both groups wins, they’ll comply with Bayern by.
