Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag criticized his players’ mentality after a 1-1 Europa League draw with FC Twente, lamenting their failure to match the Dutch side’s intensity and inability to capitalize on chances.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expressed frustration with his team’s mentality after a 1-1 draw with FC Twente in the Europa League, highlighting their lack of intensity compared to the Dutch side.
Christian Eriksen had put United ahead with a first-half goal, but a second-half mistake from the midfielder allowed Twente’s Sam Lammers to score the equalizer.
Speaking after the match, Ten Hag agreed with Eriksen’s post-match admission that Twente “wanted it more.” He emphasized that United’s failure to match their opponents’ desire and work ethic was a key factor in the disappointing result.
“They fought for every yard and we didn’t,” Ten Hag said. “You saw it was the game of their life. 99 percent is not enough, you have to give 100 percent. You have to kill the game, you have to finish it off.”
United’s inability to capitalize on their chances was another source of frustration for the Dutch manager. Despite taking the lead and having 19 attempts, they managed only one goal, with Ten Hag lamenting their failure to put the game to bed.
This followed a similarly frustrating performance in their previous Premier League match, a goalless draw against Crystal Palace.
“We have to be more clinical,” Ten Hag added. “That’s not the only problem, but we must finish off games, especially when we create chances. We have enough players across the frontline who can score goals.”
United’s struggles in front of goal have been evident throughout the season, with the team managing just five goals in five Premier League matches. Ten Hag urged his players to show more consistency and ambition moving forward, with a critical stretch of fixtures looming.
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