Man United 'Gave Goal Away' in Draw with Twente, Says Frustrated Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag criticized his Manchester United players following a 1-1 draw against FC Twente in their Europa League opener on Wednesday, highlighting a significant mistake by Christian Eriksen.

Eriksen initially gave United the lead in the 35th minute with a powerful shot. However, he later gifted Twente their equalizer in the 68th minute. After a risky turn under pressure, Eriksen was dispossessed by Sam Lammers, who scored past goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Ten Hag emphasized the need for collective accountability, stating, "We kept them alive, 1-0 up, controlling the game you have to be consistent and keep going. In the second half we dropped the level, gave the goal away." He insisted that the team must aim for a second goal to secure victory, saying, "We didn't finish it off... and we get punished with a mistake from ourselves."

When asked about Eriksen's error, Ten Hag remarked, "The goal it's (a) team (mistake), a player of Twente can dribble through the pitch without stopping. We can't give a goal away like this." He reiterated the importance of maintaining pressure after taking the lead, noting that it was crucial to secure a win in their first match.

Ten Hag, who has a long history with Twente spanning 23 years across various roles, expressed disappointment at the result. He stated, "It's not nice to have to hurt something you love."

United's performance followed a lackluster goalless draw against Crystal Palace, raising concerns about their inconsistency. Eriksen acknowledged the team's lack of desire, reflecting on their disappointing record in European competitions, which now stands at one win in their last nine games. "I think mostly disappointed as a team, we wanted more in the end, far from good enough. They looked like they wanted it more, that can't be right," he commented.

Following a last-place finish in their Champions League group last season, United's European campaign started on a disappointing note once again. Ten Hag's team will face Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday and will next compete against Porto and Fenerbahce in the Europa League.