Erik ten Hag, the Manchester United manager, expressed his belief that the team’s loss to Crystal Palace was largely due to poor decision-making, particularly in defending set-pieces.
Manchester United’s manager Erik Ten Hag, expressed his assessment of the team’s disappointing loss to Crystal Palace, attributing it to a series of subpar decisions, notably in their handling of set-pieces.
This defeat marked a grim milestone for the club, as it represented their worst start to a league season in over three decades, with Joachim Andersen delivering the decisive blow by capitalizing on a free-kick delivery from Eberechi Eze, following a lapse in discipline by Sofyan Amrabat.
While Manchester United controlled possession for much of the match, their struggles in penetrating the final third were evident, in stark contrast to their opponents. Crystal Palace, despite their limited forays into the attacking half, posed a consistent threat whenever they did venture forward.
In his post-match analysis, Erik ten Hag shed light on a pivotal issue: all of Crystal Palace’s scoring opportunities emanated from set-pieces, exposing a critical vulnerability in Manchester United’s defensive strategy.
Ten Hag underscored the team’s failure to capitalize on favorable positions and available free players, emphasizing a deficiency in the quality of decision-making during these crucial phases of the game. He stressed the need for a more incisive and clinical approach to rectify these shortcomings.
“It’s quite simple. We conceded only three chances over the whole game – all three from set-plays. Then I think we got in good positions and then made poor decisions,” he told Sky Sports.
“We got into good positions and we had free players. We didn’t have an impact. The quality was just not good enough in that part of the game. The final part of the game we didn’t play our best game.
Despite the evident frustration, Ten Hag maintained a constructive perspective, acknowledging the valuable lessons to be gleaned from the encounter. He emphasized the importance of continuous improvement, particularly in the latter stages of matches, as Manchester United seeks to rebound from this setback.
“Of course it is frustrating. We were also many times close. You have to be sharp and clinical. It’s about decision making. We can’t change this result anymore. You always learn from the game and learn to do better from the final part of the game.”
With the UEFA Champions League looming on the horizon, Manchester United is now firmly focused on their upcoming clash against Galatasaray, with the aim of returning to the winning ways that have defined the club’s storied history.