Erik ten Hag admitted Manchester United’s Community Shield defeat to Manchester City was tough to take after an impressive performance from his side.
Having bested City in last season’s FA Cup final, United came close to a repeat as Alejandro Garnacho’s strike put the Red Devils ahead, only for Bernardo Silva to equalise late on with his side’s first shot on target.
The game went straight to penalties, where Jadon Sancho and Jonny Evans both failed to convert as City walked away with the trophy.
“Tough result to take,” Ten Hag told ITV. “When the performance is right, when you lose everyone feels this. It hurts in your stomach. You have to feel pain and we have to hurt. We have to take this belief in to the league.
“We did very good to produce the second goal in the FA Cup final before half-time and weren’t able to do that here.
“We managed to be on an equal level with Man City and got [Marcus] Rashford high on the pitch and good defending. We created chances, we got pressure in the ball and in possession we had some very good chances from this so there are many positives we can take.”
Ten Hag also pledged his support to Sancho, who was making his first competitive appearance for United since ending his season-long feud with the boss earlier this summer.
“[Sancho] is a very good penalty taker and today he missed but that is part of the game,” Ten Hag reflected.
Alongside Sancho, Ten Hag tried to defend Rashford after a number of fans on social media were left underwhelmed by the winger’s performance.
“I think he was several times in very good positions,” Ten Hag continued. “I was very pleased he’s getting in those positions. I know that if him, and Rasmus [Hojlund] keep making those movements, and the team make those movements, he will score goals.
“He is experienced enough to deal with this. Once he scores one, the goals will come.”
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