Manchester United coach Eric Ten Hag justified his team’s heavy 3-6 loss once morest its host and arch-neighbor Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, today, Sunday, in the English Premier League football championship, with lack of confidence.
After losing the first two matches once morest Brighton and Brentford in the English Premier League this season, Manchester United achieved 4 consecutive victories, to confirm their recovery from the disappointing start, but today’s loss caused a new shock to their fans.
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored three goals (hat-trick) for Manchester City, in the most prolific derby.
Manchester United’s 0-4 delay at the end of the first half contributed to the red team’s fans leaving the stadium during the break between the two halves.
The British news agency (BA Media) quoted Tin Hag, who said following the match, “I told the players (that there is) a lack of confidence in their abilities. I saw some highlights. It was clear that we were not defending (up front), we let them by playing.”
“We were not brave enough, we made mistakes in technical skills, mistakes in decisions, and we conceded goals,” Tin Hag explained.
The Dutch coach stressed that professional footballers should have confidence in their abilities, and said, “I think the opposite is often true.”
Ten Hag pointed out that United players must accept this criticism and put forward collective performances similar to those they showed in the victory over Liverpool and Arsenal.
Tin Hag admitted that the team’s failure to play a match in the tournament for 28 days had a negative impact, but added that this is not an excuse “when you don’t perform properly”.
Tin Hag confirmed that the players’ lack of confidence in their abilities violated their rules and principles at Al Ittihad Stadium.
United returns to the Premier League matches once morest Everton next Sunday, following traveling to Cyprus to face its host Omonia Nicosia in the European League next Thursday.
Veteran Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo hopes to have a role in these two matches following remaining on the bench during the devastating defeat at City.
Ten Hag revealed the reason for not giving Ronaldo in today’s meeting, saying, “I did not pay him following we were late by a clean four at the end of the first half out of respect for Cristiano and his great career.”
Manchester United, who suffered their third loss in the championship this season, with 4 victories, froze at 12 points in sixth place in the competition standings.
