Erik ten Hag pleads for patience, says Manchester United 'will improve' - 'Don't judge us in this moment'
Published 03/10/2024 at 23:54 GMT+1
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag pleaded with the club's fans to wait until the end of the season to judge him and his side following another poor performance. United threw away a two-goal lead to trail 3-2 to Porto in the UEFA Europa League, only to be saved by a goal from Harry Maguire in the final moments. Bruno Fernandes picked up another red card to further compound a woeful night.
'Just wait' - Ten Hag promises improvement by end of season
Video credit: TNT Sports
Erik ten Hag has pleaded for patience from Manchester United fans after his side escaped the Estadio do Dragao with a draw thanks to a last-minute equaliser from Harry Maguire against Porto.
After leading 2-0 within 20 minutes in the UEFA Europa League tie, United conceded three goals to give Porto a 3-2 lead in the closing stages, until a header from Harry Maguire in the 91st minute saved the Dutchman from yet another disappointing loss this season.
Following his dismissal performance against Spurs at the weekend, Bruno Fernandes picked up a second consecutive red card roughly 10 minutes prior to Maguire's header to punctuate a woeful night for United supporters.
"We will get there. Don't judge us in this moment, judge us at the end of the season," a deadpan Ten Hag said post-match.
"I said the same last season, just wait. We are in the process, we will improve and we have now two seasons where we achieved finals. Just wait, we have to develop and progress this team.
"We will work and we will continue and we will fight. You see the spirit and the connection between the staff and the team and the players together have a strong spirit, they want to achieve. We have a good mentality but in some defending parts, we have to step up."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/10/03/4047984-82097328-2560-1440.jpg)
Highlights: Maguire saves shambolic United with dramatic late equaliser
Video credit: TNT Sports
Pressure is beginning to mount on the Dutchman, and while the sack may not be looming quite yet, he is no doubt walking a tightrope after the Porto result followed an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Spurs at home.
As usual, defending was a key concern for the side, who were unable to hold onto a two-goal lead in Porto. Ten Hag was forced to send on Harry Maguire to freshen a stale defence, and he was lucky that the 31-year-old saved him with the equaliser.
"We started the game very good," Ten Hag said. "We dominated, scored two good goals, but then we lost control. The start was good. The middle part was no good. And then we finished very good.
"It's a tough place to go, we're coming back from 3-2 and get the equaliser. It's good for the spirit, you see the team is willing, strong character, but the middle part, the defending, we have to improve.
"First of all, be better on the ball, like our first part. Keep switching to our free players, we had a good plan and in the half spaces we had our free players, so use them, and more goals will come. The second thing is, yeah, obviously we have to defend better."
- Chelsea 4-2 Gent - Renato Veiga and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall score first Chelsea goals as Blues open campaign with Gent win
- Porto 3-3 Manchester United: Harry Maguire spares Utd's blushes after throwing away two-goal lead in UEFA Europa League
Before draws with Twente and Porto and the loss to Spurs, United had kept clean sheets against a 10-man Southampton, Barnsley and Crystal Palace.
"We had three clean sheets not so long ago, so we can defend very good," the 54-year-old added. "But we have to go back to those habits. And only then can you win games. When you score three times in an away game in Europe there must be enough."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/10/03/4047994-82097533-2560-1440.jpg)
'Tactically, I don't get it' - Carney cannot see Ten Hag surviving season
Video credit: TNT Sports
TNT's Karen Carney offered a scathing opinion post-match, criticising the United manager's tactics and choice of substitution.
"He said wait until the end of the season. Off my gut, I'm not sure if he'll be that person at the end of the season. I think he's going off of what happened at the end of last season, where he got a Cup in the FA Cup final and that's the backend.
"I've said consistently, tactically, I don't get it. I don't see the long-term plan of him being able to do that. I don't understand his substitutes either at times throughout the season and in particular today."
Stream the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?