Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has dismissed comparisons to Harry Potter after his team suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool. Despite the loss, Ten Hag believes his side still has a great chance to lift a trophy this season. The visitors had a goal ruled out before Luis Diaz scored twice in the first half. Mohamed Salah added a third after the restart, but United managed to avoid a repeat of their 5-0 defeat to Liverpool last year.
Ten Hag faced criticism for his starting lineup, which included six of his signings. His most recent acquisition, Manuel Ugarte, was introduced to the fans before the match but was unable to play due to registration issues. Despite their poor start to the season, Ten Hag remains optimistic about their chances, stating that it will take time for the new players to integrate into the team.
One player who struggled in the match was Joshua Zirkzee, who had a mixed performance, with both aimless passes and some decent chances. Matthis de Ligt also looked uncomfortable in defense alongside Lisandro Martinez, while Kobbie Mainoo was frequently exposed by Ryan Gravenberch in midfield.
Ten Hag became involved in an argument with a journalist during his post-match press conference. He defended his vision for the team and emphasized the need for patience as they build a new squad. Despite the defeat, Ten Hag believes that they will have a chance to lift another trophy by the end of the season.
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro was at fault for the first two goals, giving the ball away for the first and being easily beaten for the second. Ten Hag made the bold decision to replace him with 20-year-old Toby Collyer at halftime. However, Ten Hag denied rumors that Casemiro left the stadium early, stating that he met him in the dressing room after the game and believes he will continue to contribute to the team.
Overall, Manchester United’s defeat to Liverpool was a setback, but Ten Hag remains confident in his team’s ability to bounce back and compete for trophies. With time for the new signings to settle in and improve, Ten Hag believes they will have a strong chance of success by the end of the season.