Ten Hag justifies Man Utd 3-0 loss to Tottenham, addresses sack rumour

Abdullateef Fowewe

Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag has addressed the team’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, citing an early goal as a critical factor in the loss.

He expressed disappointment over conceding within the first few minutes, stating it negatively impacted the players’ confidence.

Ten Hag while speaking with BBC ‘Match of the Day’ after the disappointing result, noted that despite creating opportunities for an equalizer, including chances from Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho, the team struggled to maintain composure after going down to ten men due to a red card for Bruno Fernandes.

He underscored the need for resilience and improvement ahead of future matches, calling the performance unacceptable.

Ten Hag said, “To concede a goal after two or three minutes like that, did something to our belief. Totally unnecessary. To concede a goal like this, the centre-half steps in and passes the whole team over the right side and then the winger taps in at the far post. Same mistake as in the midweek against Twente, it should be stopped in the first moment.

“From that moment on we were stressed on the ball. We could not find the triangles or the switches, we had some good moments, but from that moment we could not get a foothold. And we can do better than that. Even after such a mistake from us we should stay calm.

“We had chances and our moments to get back in the game, with Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho when we still had 11 players and then after the red card too, we had moments. We had our chances before half-time and in the second half with 10 men, we had chances as well. It definitely had an impact on the game. I don’t think it was a red card.

“First we have to deal with this and show resilience. This is not good enough. We have to accept this and get better. Focus on the next game and do things better than we did today.”

Ten Hag while addressing the sack rumour following the defeat insisted that he, the players and the board have decided to continue together.

He said, “I’m not thinking about being sacked, not at all. We all made the decision to stay together.

“Ownership, staff, players, myself. We made the decision from a clear review of what we have to do. We knew it would take some time. We are on the same page together.”

The match will be the second consecutive loss at home for the Man United after they were also thrashed 3-0 by Liverpool.