Erik Ten Hails Eriksen But Blasts ‘Unacceptable’ Man Utd Stars After Atletico Defeat

Erik Ten has applauded Christian Eriksen but blasted ‘Unacceptable’ Man Utd finishing after Atletico’s defeat.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Erik ten Hag believes Christian Eriksen will play a crucial role for Manchester United this season but claims his attacking players delivered an ‘unacceptable’ performance against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

The Red Devils were beaten 1-0 thanks to Joao Felix’s late strike for Diego Simeone’s side, shortly before United star Fred was given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card as Ten Hag’s troops ended the contest with 10 men.

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Eriksen, meanwhile, came off the bench to make his first appearance for a United shirt and should have been credited with an assist as his excellent delivery was met by Harry Maguire, who missed with a header from six yards out.

Asked about Eriksen after the game, Ten Hag highlighted the importance of the midfielder to United’s attack.

The feisty friendly was played in Oslo, Norway and Ten Hag tasted defeat for the first time as United boss, with Joao Felix scoring the only goal of the game.

It was a narrow loss to a very good team, and it was not quite the starting XI Ten Hag will want to field on a regular basis in the Premier League, but the Dutchman was still very unhappy after the game.

Specifically, he had a problem with his side’s lack of efficiency in front of goal as he felt they created enough to at least get a draw from the game, but failed to take their chances.

‘In the end it’s about the result, and the score was not good,’ Ten Hag told Manchester United club media. ‘You have to take benefits if you create chances.

‘I think we created many chances, to produce at least one goal and from less chances they create, they scored one — that point, I am not satisfied. I have told the team it is not acceptable, you have to be sharp in the box, both sides.’

Ten Hag did find positives though, generally happy with the performance apart from taking the chances that his side created.
‘I think we contributed really well, I think the performance from our team was really good,’ he said.

‘Our game, our possession and transition game was really good. We created a lot of threat, had weapons, we create opportunities, so that part I was really satisfied.’

Anthony Martial was starting as the central striker, as he has been throughout pre-season, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga either side of him and Bruno Fernandes behind.

The Red Devils are back in action on Sunday in Manchester when they take on Rayo Vallecano, and while fans are excited to see Cristiano Ronaldo return to action in that match, they will not see any of the stars who started in Norway.

FURTHER READING

• Erik Ten Makes Man Utd Training Ground Demand As Pre-season Gets Underway

• Erik Ten Hag Reveals Plans For Alejandro Garnacho Next Season

• Gary Neville Tells Erik Ten 4 Signings To Make This Summer Transfer Window

The players that played from the start will not come on tomorrow,’ said the United boss. ‘Tomorrow we will have a different start XI. There are players who came on [against Atletico Madrid] who can start tomorrow.’

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