On Sunday, at the Etihad Stadium, after Manchester United’s 3-6 loss against Man City, Erik ten Hag told his players they lacked belief and said they folded like a pack of cards.
Pep Guardiola was enthused by his team’s display in which Phil Foden and Erling Haaland each scored hat-tricks and took their team into second in the point table. Man City is now only one point behind Arsenal in the Premier League. On the United’s side, Anthony Martial scored two goals, and Antony scored goals.
Ten Hag said, It’s a lack of belief, and when you do not believe on the pitch, you can not win games, and that is unacceptable, and the plan was to show bravery and confidence, but we did not from the first minute.
Moreover, he said, we left Haaland, and we were not tight, and for the first goal, we won the ball and could have created a great chance, but instead, we gave it easily away, and then it was like a pack of cards.
Ten Hag said I criticized them, and I told them, me as well because I did not get the message through. He said with this lack of confidence, we cannot win games, and I do not think this attitude is Manchester United, and we can act much braver.
Moreover, he said we did not follow the rules of the way we play, and you get hammered, we have to accept that, but this performance was not acceptable.
Ten Hag said about Cristiano Ronaldo that I would not bring him in because out of respect for Cristiano, for his big career.
Ten Hag is clear that his players must have the personality to accept his criticism. He said they have to, and they showed in the victories against Liverpool and Arsenal that when they perform as a team.
Moreover, he said when they bring their belief on the pitch, starting individually, they will show what they can do.
