Erik ten Hag blasts United's 'UNACCEPTABLE' performance at City
‘If you don’t fight, you are going to have a problem’: Erik ten Hag blasts Man United’s ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ performance in 6-3 thrashing at Man City as he plans to hold crunch talks with players about lack of ‘belief’ during derby defeat
- Erik ten Hag watched his side fall to a chastening 6-3 defeat at hands of rivals
- Hat-tricks from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden capped a brilliant day for Man City
- Dutchman said defeat was different to that at Brentford where they ‘didn’t run’
Erik ten Hag has blasted his Manchester United team for showing a lack of belief in their defeat at Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
Hat-tricks from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden ensured City went within a point of leaders Arsenal with a captivating 6-3 win that at times appeared as though they were playing a different game to their great rivals.
Speaking to Sky Sports and BBC Sport after the game, Ten Hag rejected suggestions that the defeat was similar to that of Brentford all the way back in August but said that his players lacked the required ‘belief’ to take the game to City.
Erik ten Hag blasted his team’s performance as they were comprehensively beaten on Sunday
He said: ‘If you don’t fight – which we didn’t – you are going to have a problem against Manchester City. This is different to Brentford, that day we didn’t run. Today we wanted to run but there was a lack of belief.’
‘I don’t think you can compare to Brentford,’ he added. ‘This is definitely like against Brentford, [in being] mental, but different. Today we wanted to run, but we didn’t follow the principles and rules but once again, it was a lack of belief.
The Dutchman, who was criticised for his seemingly overly bold set up away at the champions, warned his players that he would show them on Monday that they could have been more ‘on the front foot’ on Sunday afternoon.
Ten Hag watched on as Manchester City ran riot to beat his team 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium
‘I will show the team tomorrow we could have been on the front foot. In the first goal, we won the ball and could have created a chance and gave it away. That is unacceptable,’ he said.
The first goal, scored by Phil Foden, came inside the first 10 minutes when City looked in ominous form and had had various chances to capitalise on their early pressure.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag also said that he would have to enquire with his players as to why they didn’t bring what he has seen as a ‘different team and spirit’ in recent weeks.
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden became the first City players to score hat-tricks in the same game in the Premier League era
‘I am surprised why we didn’t bring it on the pitch, I have seen a different team, spirit and we did not look convinced,’ he said. ‘I have to talk to my players and find out why.’
Haaland and Foden became the first City players in the Premier League era to score hat-tricks in the same game on a chastening afternoon for Ten Hag in which is revolution appeared to take a backwards step.
The scoreline also ensured that it was the highest scoring Manchester derby of all time.
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