Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says his team still needs more time to come together following Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur.
United were second-best throughout the contest and the situation was only made worse when captain Bruno Fernandes was shown a red card shortly before half-time with the score at 1-0.
Ten Hag has had a testing start to the new campaign after remaining as United manager following an end-of-season review in June. This was United’s second 3-0 home loss this month, following the game against Liverpool on September 1. Former club captain Gary Neville, who is a part of the taskforce responsible for exploring the regeneration of Old Trafford, called the performance “disgusting” on the Sky Sports broadcast of the game.
“No, I am not thinking about this,” Ten Hag replied when asked if he feared the United hierarchy may look to make a managerial change in the wake of the Spurs result.
“We all made in togetherness this decision to stay together, as ownership group, leadership group in the summer, also we made the decision, after a clear review, what we have to improve as an organisation and how to construct a squad.
“All decisions made in togetherness, also knowing it would take some time, given how window went, some players late in, like Ugarte, we need to integrate him, organization, injuries.
“We need some time, we are all there on one page, one boat, the ownership, the leadership group, the staff, players too.”
United went 1-0 down in the third minute with Brennan Johnson converting from close range after a defence-splitting run from centre-back Micky van de Ven. Fernandes was sent off just before the break for a challenge which was deemed serious foul play, with fellow midfielder Kobbie Mainoo withdrawn for Mason Mount shortly after due to injury.
Spurs doubled their lead early in the second half as Dejan Kulusevki poked him Johnson’s deflected cross. Dominic Solanke scored his third goal in as many games in the 77th minute to wrap the game up, with the Englishman’s strike triggering many fans to leave Old Trafford. Boos rang out at the final whistle.
The result leaves United 12th in the Premier League table with only two wins from their opening six matches. They are winless in their last three games, with the Spurs defeat coming after a goalless draw at Crystal Palace and last Wednesday’s 1-1 home draw with FC Twente in the Europa League.
United return to Europa League action on Thursday with a trip to Porto. They then travel to Aston Villa next Sunday for their final league game before the October international break.
(Carl Recine/Getty Images)
