Erik ten Hag and Christian Eriksen both admitted it was unacceptable that FC Twente showed more desire than Manchester United in Wednesday’s shock Europa League draw.
The new-look group phase began with the Red Devils taking on the club their manager spent a combined 23 years with across three spells as a player and then as a coach.
Ten Hag’s reunion started well enough as Eriksen thundered the hosts into a first-half lead at a sold-out Old Trafford.
But United lost their way after the break and the experienced midfielder’s error allowed Sam Lammers to seal a famous 1-1 draw for the Eredivisie outfit.
Reflecting on the Europa League opener, goalscorer Eriksen told TNT Sports: “Mostly disappointed as a team. Obviously we wanted more but in the end it was far from good enough.
“Like it just has been said also in the changing room, I think they looked like they wanted it more than us and that can’t be right.”
Those comments were put to Ten Hag in the post-match press conference.
“Yes, you saw it,” the United boss said. “Twente, it was the game of their life and they fought for every yard. And, yeah, we didn’t – 99 per cent is not enough.
“You have to give 100 per cent. You have to kill the game, you have to finish it off.
🥰#MANTWE #FCTwente pic.twitter.com/QUWm5epkCm
— FC Twente (@fctwente) September 25, 2024
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“We bring the game until the end, but you have to go for the second goal then you kill the game.”
Put to Ten Hag that players should be up for a game like this, he said: “Definitely, especially (as) we are very ambitious.
“When you have ambition, then you have to perform, then you have to prove that point.
“Today, especially in the second half, I think we were too easy-going, too complacent.
“We didn’t bring it over the line and, as a team, you have to deliver this.”
Ten Hag bemoaned the lack of cutting edge after Saturday’s 0-0 Premier League draw at Crystal Palace and this time saw his side score just one of their 18 attempts.
“That’s true, and we have to work on this,” the United manager said. “That’s also clear.
“We have to be more clinical in such situations, but I don’t think that was the only problem.
“We have to keep going second half, be consistent in the structures of the team.
“It’s also a question of mentality, and kill it off, make the second goal, and then the game is over.”
This is not the first time United’s mentality has been questioned since Ten Hag took charge in 2022 and he said: “Yeah, I think often the mentality is very good from this team.
“I saw in many games how high our work rate is. That is often very good but today, yeah, I have some criticism.
“But that is not only the team, I have to look in the mirror as well. I’m part of it.
“We should have acted different, especially I think second half, as I said, you have to kill the game, especially if you know we have some problems in scoring goals.
“If you have a goal, then you need to be consistent in your game.”
