Ten Hag blasts ‘unacceptable’ Man Utd stars for being ‘distracted’ and ‘not doing their jobs’
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has told his players that their performances in their opening two Premier League fixtures were “not acceptable”.
The Red Devils were lucky to beat Wolves 1-0 at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the Premier League season with the visitors missing a number of chances to take the lead.
While they were second best to Tottenham in the second half of their match last weekend with Ten Hag’s side losing 2-0 in north London.
The Man Utd midfield has been heavily criticised after the opening two matches but Ten Hag insists all areas of the team are to blame for their poor start.
“It is not about the midfield – it is about the back and the front – that is why we were open,” Ten Hag said about the Tottenham match.
“They didn’t run. Or they run in the wrong moment, too late. Especially the front [players] didn’t recover.
“The first 35 minutes we were so good, dominated the game totally. We should have scored minimum once, but I think two. They [Spurs] were nowhere, nothing, and then things happened in the game.
“They [United] got distracted, not doing their jobs any more. That is a demand from a Manchester United player and team. I am not used to it from this team because they always do. That is what the fans can expect and we [as coaches] have to demand.”
And Ten Hag has revealed that he gave them the negative feedback to their faces but also urged his Man Utd side to “take positives” from winning one of their opening two matches.
Ten Hag added: “I told them, I gave them the feedback this is not acceptable. We have to do it as a team, do it with togetherness. Every individual has to take responsibility. We need accountable players.
“We are in the same boat. I am responsible for it – me as well. We have to face [the fact] the first two games we were not good enough but still won one. From the other we can take positives. If we do the right things we have a very good team and will win games – if everyone is doing their job.”
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