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Manchester United put in yet another lacklustre display, this time in the Europa League and were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Twente at home on Wednesday.
The hosts took the lead through Christian Eriksen and instead of carrying on, they choose to sit back and relax and were punished after a mistake from the Dane.
Heading into the contest on the back of only three wins in seven games, Erik ten Hag was under pressure and despite his love for his former club, a win was an absolute prerequisite from the encounter.
However, his team seemed slow and laborious with the ball and more worryingly for the Dutch manager, the goalscorer on the night claimed the opposition wanted it more.
Eriksen says Twente wanted it more
In professional sports, that is the most damning thing you can hear and after last season’s horror shows, this was the last thing that INEOS would have wanted to hear.
“We wanted more, but in the end, it was far from good enough and we said in the changing room that it looked like they wanted it more and that can’t be right,” Eriksen told TNT Sports.
“They looked like they wanted it more than us and that can’t be right.”
Christian Eriksen reflects on a disappointing evening for Man United pic.twitter.com/GgbfWZEY9W
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 25, 2024
“I think personally, you score a goal and think you’re a matchwinner, but obviously it’s gone the other way. Everyone is looking at themselves. Everyone is a professional footballer.
“They know what to do, what can’t happen and in a game like today, we didn’t lose but it felt like a loss and against FC Twente at home, that can’t happen.”
EtH struggling big time
While all the blame cannot be put on the manager, the lack of impetus is clearly not being addressed by the former Ajax coach. There is no discernible style of play and the Dutchman is simply not bringing out the best from his players.
His in-game changes are coming far too late and his choice of substitutions is also baffling at times. Choosing to take off a dangerous Marcus Rashford for another midfielder at Old Trafford on Wednesday defied logic.
Club captain Bruno Fernandes is struggling for form for the first time in his United career while none of the forwards look like they can score a goal at the moment.
The club is currently placed 11th in the Premier League and with huge games against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa coming up, Ten Hag’s position certainly looks dicey at the moment.
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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