Erik ten Hag fumes at Manchester United for failure to 'finish off' Twente in Europa League - 'We kept them alive'

Updated 25/09/2024 at 23:11 GMT

Erik ten Hag was unhappy with Manchester United's failure to push for a second goal after they were held by FC Twente in their UEFA Europa League opener. Ten Hag told TNT Sports that "we got punished with a mistake from ourselves" after "we didn't finish it off." United led through Christian Eriksen at half-time, but Sam Lammers levelled to take a point for the Dutch visitors.

Erik ten Hag.

Image credit: Getty Images

Erik ten Hag was disappointed Manchester United “dropped their level” in the second half of Wednesday’s UEFA Europa League draw with Twente and was left frustrated they “didn’t finish it off.”

Christian Eriksen’s piledriver put the Red Devils in front at Old Trafford, but the Danish midfielder went from hero to zero when his costly mistake allowed Sam Lammers in for the Dutch side’s second half leveller.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, United manager Ten Hag rued his side’s inability to put the game to bed by finding a second goal while they were in front.

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“We kept them alive. One-nil up, controlling the game, you have to be consistent and keep going. In the second half we dropped the level and gave a goal away,” Ten Hag said.

"We didn't finish it off, we had to go for the second goal. They stayed alive and we got punished with a mistake from ourselves."

Ten Hag was also frustrated by the way his team gave a goal away, with former Rangers striker Lammers punishing some dozy play in the 68th minute.

The boisterous travelling fans were left celebrating a valuable point at full-time, while TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves was critical of United’s inability to see out results in a season where “they haven’t beaten anybody.”

Ten Hag continued: "The goal it’s [down to the] team, a player of Twente can dribble through the whole pitch without stopping. We can't give a goal away like this.

"We have seen again some good structures, but you have to build consistency. You have to keep going for the whole game, once you are 1-0 up you have to keep going and go for the second."

United still have seven more games to come in the League Phase of the newly revamped Europa League structure, where all 36 teams are ranked in one table.

They travel to Porto next on October 3, before a trip to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on October 24.

Games against PAOK, Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, Rangers and FCSB follow before the league phase reaches its conclusion at the end of January.

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