Ten Hag: It's about keeping the focus
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United must be more clinical going forward and maintain focus at the back, following our last-gasp defeat at Brighton.
The Reds had the better of the opportunities at the Amex Stadium, especially in the first half, with Antony, Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes all going close before Brighton started to pin us back after the break.
But, with the clock ticking and the game edging towards a goalless draw, a handball was given against Luke Shaw and Alexis Mac Allister made no mistake from the spot, firing into the top corner in the 99th minute.
Here’s what Erik made of events at the Amex Stadium, with quotes collated from his post-match interviews and press conference...
BE MORE CLINICAL
“I think in the first minute that we created a great chance, but we didn't score. So we have to be more clinical on our chances we produce in the first half and then in the attack, we concede then and we give away a big chance. And also in the end, we gave away a goal and that can't happen, must not happen. It maybe a little bit [lack of] focus, but we were also a bit unlucky because it was never a free-kick where the corner is coming from. So yeah, and then you can't bounce back anymore. But that is what we have to do on Sunday.”
Ten Hag: I think we defended well
Erik ten Hag says Brighton's late goal was a sucker-punch for his side after a resilient display...
DON’T LOSE FOCUS
“We had clear chances with Antony dos Santos, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Casemiro. They all create opportunities and one has to be in. I don't have concerns. It's about keeping the focus and we shouldn’t lose the focus in the final and dying seconds of the game. Then we take that point and, in the end, if you can't win it because you don't finish your chances, then don't lose.”
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FREE-KICK
“I've seen that it is handball and maybe he is out of balance. Maybe he got a push from the back, but I can't see because there are so many players in [the way]. My anger is about the free-kick before, because it was never a free-kick [against Shaw on Enciso] and there was so many bad tackles tonight where there was not a whistle. But that is nothing. It's a fair block and that's a whistle.”
STILL PLENTY IN THE TANK
"I have seen our physical outputs in the last games, we still have high levels, performing really well. We are still going up."
LET’S BOUNCE BACK
"The last five games, we had four wins, one draw. We were in a good run, we are improving. But we still have a way to go. We have to stay focused. We have everything in our hands, and we have to bounce back. We have to take the lessons from tonight and then we move on and we go to West Ham. Then we have to bounce back.”