Man Utd’s Mistake Unveiled by Erik ten Hag in Fulham’s Winning Goal
Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, expressed his frustration with his team’s defending during the closing stages of their recent defeat against Fulham. The Red Devils lost ground in the race for a Champions League place after their four-game winning run came to a demoralizing end. Ten Hag lamented his team’s lack of coordinated pressing in the build-up to Fulham’s shock late winning goal.
The match started off uneventfully, but Fulham took a deserved lead when Calvin Bassey scored shortly before the midway point of the second half. However, United managed to force an equalizer in the closing stages when Harry Maguire capitalized on an error from Bernd Leno to score his first Premier League goal in two years.
In their search for a winner, Ten Hag’s side threw caution to the wind, but they were caught off guard when Adama Traore broke away from Christian Eriksen and Maguire to set up Alex Iwobi, who scored Fulham’s late winner.
Ten Hag was far from impressed with how Fulham was able to launch their attack, which started near their own corner flag with a throw-in. “It was a throw-in [for Fulham] in the corner, we had them under pressure and we have one player in the wrong position,” Ten Hag told the BBC. He emphasized the importance of team coordination and positioning, stating that they let Fulham escape and that it was avoidable.
In an earlier interview with beIN Sport, Ten Hag further elaborated on the mistake that led to Fulham’s winning goal. He said, “We lost the game with one loose moment, we forgot to press when the ball was in the corner from a throw-in. That had big consequences.” Ten Hag highlighted the issue of bad positioning and emphasized the need for the team to push each other in such situations. He expressed disappointment that the team failed to close down Fulham and allowed them time to break. Ten Hag stressed that the entire team should have been in the right positions to prevent this kind of mistake.
The defeat against Fulham has raised questions about Manchester United’s approach and the performance of their players. Harry Maguire criticized the team’s “naïve” approach after the game, while Paul Merson accused the players of “looking after themselves” and letting down Omari Forson. Tim Sherwood also joined in the criticism, slamming a Chelsea star who he claimed was “allergic to leather” and “didn’t want the ball.”
In conclusion, Erik ten Hag’s frustration with Manchester United’s defending in their recent defeat against Fulham highlights the need for better coordination and positioning within the team. The mistake that led to Fulham’s winning goal was avoidable, and Ten Hag stressed the importance of pressing and closing down the opponent in such situations. The defeat has sparked criticism of Manchester United’s approach and the performance of their players, raising concerns about their chances of securing a Champions League place.