UEFA Europa League: Owen Hargreaves says wasteful Manchester United must 'find a way to get results' after Twente draw
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Updated 25/09/2024 at 23:07 GMT
Manchester United's UEFA Europa League campaign started poorly as they were pegged back in a 1-1 draw with Dutch side FC Twente at Old Trafford. TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves was unimpressed with United's inability to see out the win, saying they "need to find a way to get results" as they "haven't beaten anybody" so far this season.
Man Utd.
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Manchester United “need to find a way to get results” as they “haven’t really beaten anybody” so far this season, according to TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves.
United’s UEFA Europa League campaign got off to a disappointing start on Wednesday as they surrendered the lead to draw 1-1 against Dutch outfit FC Twente.
Erik ten Hag’s side have won three games out of seven across all competitions this season, against Fulham and Southampton in the Premier League and Barnsley in the EFL Cup.
And Hargreaves was left unimpressed after watching the Red Devils fail to protect their lead at home to an opponent they were heavy favourites to beat.
“That’s the biggest issue so far this season – they haven’t really beaten anybody,” Hargreaves said on TNT Sports’ Europa League coverage.
“There was the Liverpool game (a 3-0 defeat). Against Crystal Palace (a 0-0 draw on Saturday) they probably should’ve won. The first half was exceptional, but then in the end, if it wasn’t for an [Andre] Onana double save, they could have lost that as well.
“They need to find a way to get results. The squad is stronger, there is more positivity around the team.
“But this will be a bit of a blow because the season has gone a bit like this – they had control of the game but couldn’t finish it off.
“I think that allows a team like Twente to grow in confidence, be positive, and in the end they leave Old Trafford with a point. They pushed, they went for it and got what they deserved.”
Things won’t get any easier for Ten Hag in the month ahead as he faces a gruelling series of fixtures.
The Red Devils face Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in the Premier League either side of a Europa League trip to FC Porto, before further games against Brentford, Fenerbahce and West Ham United in the space of the next month.
Carney - ‘Huge system error’
TNT Sports expert Karen Carney broke down the goal United conceded in the second half, blaming a “huge system error” for the equaliser rather than Christian Eriksen’s individual mistake.
Twente’s goal began from their own goal kick as the Red Devils midfield and defence were carved open easily before Eriksen’s carelessness in possession let Sam Lammers in to beat Andre Onana.
“It came from a goal kick. This is a system error,” Carney said.
“(Marcus) Rashford does a double press, which is great, but when (the Twente defender) can run through three players, you jump in, the space is there, your centre-backs are out.
"It falls to Eriksen, he’s worried about passing it back and doesn’t check his shoulders.
"But to go from their goal kick, to run through the heart of your team, and get an equaliser is a huge system error. It’s more than Eriksen’s mistake.”
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