Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag slammed his players for not giving 100 per cent effort throughout Thursday night’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, his 29th of the season in all competitions, had put United in the box seat at half-time, but a laboured and lethargic performance after the break allowed Pedro Porro and Son Heung-min to earn Ryan Mason a point in his first game back as interim manager.
United’s inability to defend a lead didn’t just cost them two points on the night, but it also saw them lose ground on Newcastle United in the race for third place. The Magpies were convincing 4-1 winners over Everton at Goodison Park and now have a two-point advantage over United, who sit fourth with a game in hand.
“Some thought 90 per cent was enough,” Ten Hag fumed when probed about United letting Spurs back into the game. “I know they are not robots and fatigue is an issue but you have to give it everything on every occasion. That is the basis.
“We took a bit of the gas off and that was our problem. I think it’s been that for a few games where we are sharp and coming ahead and [haven’t] kept it going.
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“We are disappointed – we were 2-0 up. We had the chances to make it 3-1 which we didn’t take. We were not good over the 90 minutes, we did not play brilliant. After half-time, being up 2-0, we had to score another goal.
United’s progress this season has been evident – a Carabao Cup final win and date with Manchester City in the FA Cup final attests to that – but there’s been a number of occasions where the Red Devils have failed to see out positions of strength.
For Ten Hag, it’s pretty simple: United have to manage games better. “We have to manage the game and keep the ball. Not give the ball away so easily, the goal was quite obvious,” the Dutchman continued.
“We have to block the crosses, we have to be proactive and come out and we didn’t squeeze out. It was so easy for them, easy for them to score a goal.
“We need energy and we have to be ready for Sunday (against Aston Villa). But in the end, good draw.”
United still have work to do if they want to clinch a place in the top four and qualficiation for next season’s Champions League, but things are looking bright after recent results.
Tottenham’s terrible run of form has seen them drop off the pace, and although they bagged a point at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they sit six adrift off United in fifth place having played two more…
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