Erik ten Hag has admitted that he anticipated Tottenham’s comeback in the second-half of their draw with Manchester United, claiming ‘you could see it coming’. The Red Devils had taken a two-goal lead at half-time thanks to strikes from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, but Pedro Porro’s stunning volley started the comeback before Son Heung-min equalised with just 11 minutes to go.
Ten Hag has now revealed that he had already prepared his substitutions before Porro scored, but was too late to make them. Speaking to BT Sport, he said: ‘It was the same as before half-time. We lose control, we conceded the goal – you could see it coming and I had already prepared the subs, but I was a little bit too late.’
The result means United stay fourth, six points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham with two games in hand, but they are now two points behind Newcastle, albeit with a game in hand, after the Magpies beat Everton 4-1 at Goodison Park. Ten Hag added when speaking to BBC Sport: ‘My opinion was that we didn’t play that well. We were not clinical enough but we scored two times and then you have to finish the game. The goals we conceded were too easy and we could have avoided them.’
The manager also received criticism for his use of substitutions, with changes made after Porro’s goal only aiding Spurs’ cause as United failed to get a hold of the game like they had in the first-half. Fred was bought on in place of Christian Eriksen to help settle the game but instead endured a woeful evening, as did Anthony Martial and Tyrell Malacia who came on later for Sancho and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with the left-back ultimately at fault for the equalising goal.
Ten Hag concluded: ‘Of course [Fernandes hitting the bar was frustrating], but don’t blame it one one player. We weren’t clinical enough and I think we had to score more. We came here, as every game, we come to win. It was clear how they managed the game and we wanted to win, which we didn’t. Before I think a draw was ok but when you see this game you have to get over the line. If we win on Sunday [against another top four rival in Aston Villa], that will be a great week but first we have to get there and we need all the energy. Recover, get ready for the game, get the focus and go again.’