Erik ten Hag expressed his disappointment with Manchester United’s performance, highlighting a lack of intensity in their 1-1 draw against FC Twente in the Europa League at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. He criticized his players for failing to “fight for every yard,” contrasting their efforts with Twente’s determination, which he described as “the game of their life.”
United initially took control of the match, thanks to Christian Eriksen’s first-half goal. However, their momentum faltered after the break. The turning point came in the 68th minute when Twente’s Bart van Rooij made a notable run from deep within his own half, effortlessly evading several United players, including Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes. After a tackle from Manuel Ugarte, ball fell to Eriksen, who hesitated, allowing Sam Lammers to seize opportunity and equalize.
A visibly frustrated Ten Hag reflected on the match, stating, “You could see it was the game of their life. They fought for every yard, while we didn’t. Ninety-nine percent is not enough; you have to give 100%. When you’re leading 1-0, you must go for the second goal to finish the game. Instead, we allowed a poor atmosphere to creep into our performance.”
Eriksen echoed his manager’s sentiments, expressing the team’s collective disappointment. “We wanted more, but our performance was far from good enough,” he remarked. “It felt like they wanted it more than us, which simply can’t be right. Scoring a goal should give you confidence, but unfortunately, it went the other way.”
When asked about Eriksen’s comments regarding the team’s mentality, Ten Hag acknowledged the issue as a significant concern. “This is especially troubling given our ambitions. When you aim high, you must consistently perform and prove your worth. In the second half, we were too complacent; we failed to capitalize on our lead, and as a team, we must take responsibility for that.”
He added that while the team often displays a commendable mentality and work rate, this match was an exception. “Today, I must point out the criticism. It’s not just the players who need to reflect; I, too, must look in the mirror.”
The draw leaves United under pressure to improve as they navigate a challenging season, with Ten Hag aware that complacency could derail their ambitions.
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