Ten Hag disappointed with “complacent” side after drab draw against Twente in the UEFA Europa League last night.
Ten Hag bemoans his side’s inability to kill the game as they squander a first-half lead to draw 1-1 to Dutch side Twente.
Christian Eriksen’s goal in the first half gave United the lead, and they seemed in control at the intermission. However, Bart van Rooij managed to escape from deep within Twente territory after 68 minutes. He proceeded to surpass Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, Bruno Fernandes, and Marcus Rashford.
The ball went to Eriksen after Manuel Ugarte tackled the defender. However, the Dane hesitated, allowing Sam Lammers to seize the opportunity and race forward to equalise.
An unhappy Ten Hag said: “You saw it was the game of their life. They fought for every yard and we didn’t and 99% is not enough. You have to give 100%, you have to kill the game, you have to finish it off. We are leading 1-0 and then there comes an atmosphere [poor approach] in the team. You have to go for the second goal and then you kill the game.”
Eriksen was also scathing. “We’re disappointed as a team. We wanted more but it was far from good enough in the end,” he said. “They looked like they wanted it more than us and that can’t be right. Personally, you score a goal, you think it’s going to be a matchwinner but it goes the other way.”
Ten Hag was asked about Eriksen’s criticism of the team’s mental approach. “Definitely a concern,” he said. “Especially as we are very ambitious and when you have ambition you have to perform, prove the point and especially today in the second half we were too complacent, we didn’t bring it over the line and, as a team, you have to bring this.
“I think often the mentality is very good from this team, I saw in many games how high our work rate is and that is often very good. Today I have some criticism. It is not only the team that has to look in the mirror, I am part of it.”
Manchester United will face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday.