Erik ten Hag has described the ‘middle part’ of Manchester United’s dramatic Europa League draw with Porto as ‘not good’, admitting his side need to better at controlling matches. Harry Maguire’s stoppage-time header is likely to have saved Ten Hag the time to turn around his side’s poor start to the season.
United appeared to be sailing to a comfortable victory in Portugal when they led 2-0 after 20 minutes. However, the Red Devils capitulated and found themselves 3-2 behind in the second half.
Maguire, introduced as a makeshift centre-forward, powered home Christian Eriksen’s corner as the clocked ticked beyond 90 minutes. Ten Hag lamented his players losing control in the middle part of the match.
“We started the game very good, dominated. We scored two goals but then lost control,” Ten Hag told TNT Sports.
“The start was good, the middle part was not good, and then the end was very good. We come back after 3-2. The team is willing, [it has] strong character. The middle part was not good.
“We need to be better on the ball and keep switching. In the half-spaces we had players, so use them. We had three clean sheets not long ago so we can defend very good but we have to go back to those habits. Only then can you win games.”
Ten Hag withdrew Marcus Rashford at half-time despite the forward opening the scoring. He confirmed that the 26-year-old was not injured, and was instead withdrawn to preserve him for Sunday’s crunch Premier League visit to Aston Villa.
“We have to rotate. [Alejandro] Garnacho, he didn’t start but he had a great game,” Ten Hag said. “On Sunday, we have a hard game and we need our players to rotate. We have a quick turnaround to Villa, they have an extra day, and we need fresh players.”
Time might have been up for Ten Hag had his team fallen to another disappointing defeat. But the 54-year-old has urged his critics to judge him at the end of the season.
The United boss – who saw Bruno Fernandes sent off for the second game in a row – insisted: “We will get there. Don’t judge in this moment, judge us at the end of the season. We are in a process.
“We have achieved two finals. We will continue to work and continue to fight. You see the fight and the spirit between the team and the staff. They want to achieve and we are in a new direction. In some defending parts, we have to step up.”
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