Ten Hag: Our bad start was a big surprise
Erik ten Hag admitted he found it difficult to see his team concede four first-half goals as Manchester United lost the first away game of the 2022/23 Premier League season, 4-0 to Brentford.
Here are the manager's main comments on the game from his interviews with MUTV and Sky Sports...
OVERALL REACTION
“A really poor performance. You start the game and you have to be ready, and we weren’t, and that’s disappointing. It’s difficult for me.”
BAD START
“It's a surprise when you start the game like this; in 35 minutes conceding four goals. It’s not possible. So, the team has to take responsibility. I feel really sorry for the fans. They give everything to support us and we let them down.”
OVERALL REACTION
“A really poor performance. You start the game and you have to be ready, and we weren’t, and that’s disappointing. It’s difficult for me.”
BAD START
“It's a surprise when you start the game like this; in 35 minutes conceding four goals. It’s not possible. So, the team has to take responsibility. I feel really sorry for the fans. They give everything to support us and we let them down.”
Ten Hag's verdict on Brentford defeat Video
Ten Hag's verdict on Brentford defeat
Erik ten Hag shares his thoughts on United's tough time at the Gtech Community Stadium...
FIRST TWO GOALS
“It’s not about the defence. It’s altogether, how we make mistakes, and especially also dealing with the ball, because for the first two goals, we didn’t make the right decisions. At this level that cannot happen. But it happened and we have to take the result.”
INDIVIDUAL ERRORS
“It looks like that [they cost us] but then football is a team sport and then you have to work together to turn it around. Mistakes are made, that’s what you have to accept but also we have to know that we have to take responsibility. These are good players. You have to take responsibility on the pitch, as a team and as individuals. But we didn’t do it.”
“It’s not about the defence. It’s altogether, how we make mistakes, and especially also dealing with the ball, because for the first two goals, we didn’t make the right decisions. At this level that cannot happen. But it happened and we have to take the result.”
INDIVIDUAL ERRORS
“It looks like that [they cost us] but then football is a team sport and then you have to work together to turn it around. Mistakes are made, that’s what you have to accept but also we have to know that we have to take responsibility. These are good players. You have to take responsibility on the pitch, as a team and as individuals. But we didn’t do it.”
HALF-TIME MESSAGE
“It’s not possible that you, as Man United, conceded four goals in 35 minutes. So the players will know that. Then we have a squad and we can sub. [Height] was nothing to do with it. I don’t think he [Martinez] was the issue. It was more to bring on three fresh ones. I could have changed others as well.”
DE GEA CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY
“He is a great goalkeeper. For the first goal, he knows [it's a mistake], it is clear. Of course [it changes the game], but still, you have to stick to the plan and move on. Mistakes are part of football. So we have to keep going, play as a team and especially act.”
“It’s not possible that you, as Man United, conceded four goals in 35 minutes. So the players will know that. Then we have a squad and we can sub. [Height] was nothing to do with it. I don’t think he [Martinez] was the issue. It was more to bring on three fresh ones. I could have changed others as well.”
DE GEA CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY
“He is a great goalkeeper. For the first goal, he knows [it's a mistake], it is clear. Of course [it changes the game], but still, you have to stick to the plan and move on. Mistakes are part of football. So we have to keep going, play as a team and especially act.”
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