Erik ten Hag apologises to Manchester United fans for Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle - 'I'm responsible for this'

Erik ten Hag took the blame for a performance that fell "below our standards" as Manchester United were thrashed 3-0 at Old Trafford by Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.

Eddie Howe’s side heaped more misery on United, who have lost five of their first 10 matches at home to begin a season for the first time since 1930-31.

It was the second successive 3-0 defeat the Old Trafford faithful have had to endure, following Manchester City’s dominant derby victory at the weekend, and Ten Hag admitted he felt "sorry for the fans" in the aftermath of another performance that will raise questions over his future.

"We know it's not good enough," Ten Hag told Sky Sports. "We have to take responsibility for it. I have to take responsibility for it.

"I have to say sorry to the fans as it was below our standards and we have to put it right."

The game was evenly poised until the half-hour mark, when Miguel Almiron brilliantly finished off a lightning counter-attack after Alejandro Garnacho was dispossessed.

United heads appeared to drop and one became two just seven minutes later when Newcastle caught their opponents napping with a quick free-kick before Lewis Hall coolly slotted a first-time volley past a helpless Andre Onana.

Ten Hag made some changes at half-time which sparked a brief renaissance after the break, but the knockout blow was struck by the visitors when Joe Willock finished off another dynamic counter-attack in the 60th minute.

Newcastle saw the game out comfortably to book their spot in the quarter-finals and complete the Carabao Cup Manchester double, having seen off City in the previous round.

Despite the result and United’s dismal start to the season, Ten Hag remains confident he has the players to turn the club’s fortunes around.

"We have to recover from it and we have to do it quickly," he added. "Saturday is the next game [against Fulham] and we have to raise our standards. This is not good enough.

"We have [enough quality]. The players will stand up. They are sticking together. You have seen they tried but we know this is not good enough, I am responsible for this, and we have to do this together.

"To get your confidence, first you have to play and you get confidence when you get the right result. It's only possible when you're following the rules, the principles, winning your battles and bringing the fight.

"You have to do this as a team. The only way is to stick together, but you have to be disciplined, everyone has to co-operate and be accountable. We still sleep on this, then pick the team and the tactics.

"The most important thing is to put our mentality right."

Howe, who made seven changes to his starting XI for the trip to Old Trafford, was understandably delighted with his players.

There were standout performances all over the pitch, but none more so than Tino Livramento, whose surging run set up the breakthrough goal.

The 20-year-old earned the player of the match award, with Howe happy to see his side bounce back from a 2-2 draw with Wolves to "reward" the 8,000 fans who made the journey.

"It was a very good performance from us," Howe said. "The mentality was brilliant. We had injuries and picked one up early. It was a great response.

"Emile Krafth coming back after such a long absence. He was committed with Paul Dummett. Willock was brilliant and Livramento.

"Without the players committing to what we want, we've got no chance. This is a really tough place to come to score the goals we did at the time we did.

"We hope to go one better than last season. You can't go too far away.

"We return to the Premier League with Arsenal. I know we have a tough schedule ahead and we look forward to it.

"Delighted for the fans. With the journey, we had to respond and reward them."

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