After Newcastle beat Man United 3-0 at Old Trafford, here’s what Ten Hag said
In a surprising turn of events, Carabao Cup holders Manchester United faced a shocking exit from the competition, falling to a dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle in the fourth round.
The defeat marked a new low in a season filled with struggles for the under-pressure Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag.
In the aftermath of the loss, Ten Hag took responsibility for the poor performance and outlined the need for the team to regroup and improve.
A Night to Forget: Newcastle Strikes Twice in the First Half
The fourth-round rematch between last season’s Carabao Cup finalists unfolded at Old Trafford, with Newcastle taking the initiative early on.
Miguel Almiron and Lewis Hall found the net in the first half, putting Manchester United on the back foot.
The early goals set the tone for a challenging night for Ten Hag’s side, who were looking to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to Manchester City just days earlier.
Ten Hag Takes Responsibility
Erik ten Hag, who had previously enjoyed a promising first season in charge by ending Manchester United’s six-year wait for silverware, acknowledged the dismal performance against Newcastle.
He recognized the need to take responsibility for the team’s struggles, emphasizing that it was below the club’s standards.
“We know this is not good enough,” Ten Hag stated in an interview with Sky Sports. “We have to take responsibility for it; I have to take responsibility for it. We don’t give the performance, so I feel sorry for the fans. It is below our standards, and we have to put it right.”
Erik ten Hag: “We know this is not good enough. We have to take responsibility for it, and I have to take responsibility for it. We don’t give the performance, so I feel sorry for the fans. It is below our standards, and we have to put it right.
“We have to recover from it, but we have to quickly recover. Saturday is the next game (against Fulham), and we have to raise our standards. This is not good enough.”
Asked if he felt United had the right characters to meet the standards at the club, Ten Hag said, “We have, I’m confident of that.”
“Players will stand up, they are sticking together – you have seen, they have tried. But we know this is not good enough, and as I said, I’m responsible for this, and we have to do this together.”
“You have to be disciplined, and you have to do it with togetherness; everyone has to take responsibility, be accountable, and cooperate. That’s the key word,” he added.
Pressure Mounts on United and Ten Hag
Manchester United’s struggles this season have intensified the pressure on Erik ten Hag and his team.
The loss to Newcastle marked the eighth defeat in just 15 matches, a concerning statistic for a club with high expectations.
The fallout from the Carabao Cup defeat and the recent derby loss to Manchester City is likely to dominate discussions in the days to come.
Recovery and Unity Are Key
Despite the disappointment, Ten Hag expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to meet the club’s standards. He emphasized the importance of unity and recovery, with the next game against Fulham looming on the horizon.
“We have to recover from it, but we have to quickly recover. Saturday is the next game (against Fulham), and we have to raise our standards. This is not good enough,” he concluded.
Ten Hag stressed that the “only way” for Manchester United to navigate their current predicament was by sticking together, being disciplined, and taking responsibility.
He emphasized the need for accountability and cooperation as the keys to overcoming their challenges.
Challenges in the 2022-23 Season
Under Eric Ten Hag’s management, the club has made substantial investments, totaling around £411 million since the summer of 2022, with only Chelsea surpassing this figure.
In the current season, the team has faced a challenging run, with 8 losses in their first 15 games. This marks their highest number of defeats at this stage since the 1962–63 season.
Additionally, they’ve struggled in the English Premier League (EPL) this season, losing 5 of their first 10 games. This is 2 more losses than in any previous EPL season.
Their performance in the first 10 EPL games has yielded just 15 points, a tally lower than in only 2 previous EPL seasons.
Furthermore, the team’s defense has been a concern, conceding 3 or more goals in 6 of their last 12 games.
Manchester United’s shock exit from the Carabao Cup and their struggles this season have raised significant concerns.
The club and its manager, Erik ten Hag, face a challenging period, and the need for improvement and unity within the team has never been more critical.
Fans and pundits will be watching closely to see how Manchester United responds to these setbacks in the coming weeks and months.
