Social442
TNT Sports 2mos ago
'One day it will click' - Ten Hag bemoans United's finishing, says job speculation is 'external'
Source:TNT Sports

Highlights: Jota goal the difference as Liverpool squeeze past Palace despite Alisson blow

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag bemoaned his side's finishing as their winless run continued with a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday, but said noise around his potential departure from Old Trafford was "external".

The draw saw United fall to their fifth consecutive game without a victory, and saw them fire another blank in the scoring charts with just five goals in the Premier League so far this season.

Ten Hag - who has seen speculation surround his future at Old Trafford after picking up just three wins in 10 matches so far this season - said his side will "one day" find their feet in front of goal.

Premier League

'Worst defeat since I've been here' - Postecoglou fumes after 'unacceptable' second half at Brighton

13 minutes ago

"Sometimes it's the form. Rasmus Hojlund has just come into the season and is not up to 100% match fitness," Ten Hag said in his post-match press conference.

"He is our goalscorer, I would say our best goalscorer, but also others we know can score goals like [Marcus] Rashford. He scored in Porto and had a good assist in Porto.

"Today, he created two very good chances. I think [Alejandro] Garnacho all season is a threat, but also scoring and assisting.

"Bruno [Fernandes] also has the ability to score goals, so we will get there. We trust the players and one day it will click."

United did find their goalscoring groove in their UEFA Europa League encounter at Porto on Thursday, but were defensively frail as they let slip a 2-0 lead to eventually draw 3-3 with the Portuguese side. The draw sparked more speculation around Ten Hag's future at the club, after United suffered their lowest Premier League finish last term, and have continued their difficulties with their worst start to a season - according to Sky Sports. Ten Hag insists he has "very open, very transparent" dialogue with the United hierarchy, and the speculation around his future is "external noise".

"[It is] external noise," Ten Hag said. "Internal, we are disappointed. We know we have to do better. Especially, we need to score more, in this moment, after this block of games [that is] where we are really short.

"All the other areas, we are doing really well, four clean sheets. That tells you something about our defending over the season. Defensive transitions we are doing really well. Our build-up play is good, we are calm, composed, creating chances apart from today.

"Today we should have created more. That area in the box, we have to be more ruthless, more clinical, more killing."

United sit 14th in the Premier League table, with eight points from seven matches.

picture Highlights: Maguire saves shambolic United with dramatic late equaliser

NOISE AROUND TEN HAG'S JOB 'DOES AFFECT' SQUAD - EVANS

United defender Jonny Evans said the outside noise on Ten Hag's future at the club "does affect" the squad.

Jim Ratcliffe - the United co-owner - said in the week that decisions over Ten Hag's potential exit at Old Trafford are "not my call", with the team struggling for form domestically and in Europe.

Two of United's three wins this season have come against so-far winless Southampton in the Premier League, and League One outfit Barnsley in the Carabao Cup. Ten Hag's side also defeated Fulham on the opening day of the season.

Speaking about the increased pressure on Ten Hag, Evans told Sky Sports: "It does affect the players. It's on our minds too.

"I think the more experience I've got in my career I've made sure I do everything to be ready and give everything I can to the team."

The former Leicester City defender went on to describe Ten Hag's emotions after the 3-3 draw at Porto on Thursday, and said it was great to see raucous support for the team in their draw at Villa on Sunday.

"[Ten Hag] told me after the game the other night I'd play in this one," Evans added. "Even the match against Porto I wasn't expecting to come on. It's unlikely to have a double centre-back substitution. Every match I play now, I just enjoy it.

"It's still a privilege to play for this club. The pressures that come with it, it's part of it. You see the fans at the end, the support they give the team. They have supported the players massively over the years.

"It was great for him [Ten Hag] to see that. The other night he got a bit emotional, you could see it on him, letting that game slip away. You could see everyone was running into the ground to get a half-decent result."

TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League across the 2024-25 season. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. Premier League

Madueke scores again as Chelsea held by gritty 10-man Forest at Stamford Bridge

3 hours ago

Premier League

Havertz out of Germany's squad for Nations League matches

4 hours ago

Newcastle enter race for Man Utd target Olise - Paper Round

Install App

Largest Football Social Network