Erik ten Hag slams Manchester United players in critical analysis of Twente draw

United drew 1-1 with Twente
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Erik ten Hag accused Manchester United players of complacency and a lack of commitment during their 1-1 Europa League draw with Twente.

United surrendered a 1-0 lead against Ten Hag's boyhood club in the Netherlands for a second successive draw four days on from the Premier League stalemate at Crystal Palace.

Goalscorer Christian Eriksen said Twente "looked like they wanted it more than us and that can't be right" and Ten Hag claimed United failed to play at 100 per cent.

"Yes, you saw it was the game of their life," Ten Hag noted of Twente. "They fought for every yard and we didn't. And 99 per cent is not enough, you have to give 100 per cent.

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"You have to kill the game, you have to finish it off. We are leading 1-0 and then there is coming an atmosphere in a team. We bring the game until the end but you have to go for the second goal and then you kill the game.

"You saw there was a very good spirit in the (Twente) team, you could see after the draw, how they celebrate, what it meant to them, they were on the pitch.

"But we as a team have to be ready for that and we can't allow them a situation with the equaliser where one player, the right back from Twente, is dribbling over the whole midfield without being stopped.

"We are very ambitious and when you have ambition you have to perform, to prove the point and especially today second half I think we were too easy-going, too complacent. We didn't bring it over the line and as a team, you have to deliver this.

"I think often the mentality is very good from this team. I saw in many games how high our work rate is and that is often very good.

"But today I have some criticism. But it is not only the team that has to look in the mirror as well, I am part of it. We should have acted different. Especially second half.

"You have to kill the game, especially if you know we have some problems with scoring goals and if you have a goal you need to be consistent in your game."