Ten Hag reacts to draw with Leeds

The Reds conceded a goal to danger-man Wilfried Gnonto inside the opening minute and were sluggish at the start of the second period, when Raphael Varane diverted the ball into his own net.

Marcus Rashford and substitute Jadon Sancho produced a quickfire double to retrieve the situation but Erik's men were unable to find a winner in the closing stages, with Varane denied by one superb stop by Illan Meslier.

Here is what the boss had to say afterwards...

EARLY GOALS IN EACH HALF

"Very poor. It's unacceptable. You start any game, but especially a derby, the way we did. We were down and had to fight back. We made big mistakes. That's to do with attitude. We were not ready to go into the duels. We lose the duels and the formation was also bad at the start. When we lost the ball, we didn't follow the principles and were quickly down. And, from the warning in the first half, the second half was the same."

WHAT WENT WRONG?

"The players know we have to move. It wasn't necessary [Pascal] Struijk wins the ball there and he had to get away, with our movements we have to force them to stay low. That's not right. We have to live with it. It still doesn't mean it has to be a goal. We have to keep Gnonto on the left side and not let him come inside."

A SPIRITED COMEBACK

"I have to make compliments to the team for the resilience and the way they fight back. I think we make some really good football, great chances and, finally, also we finished and scored two great goals."

SANCHO'S IMPACT

"I am very happy for him. Of course, also for the team because it is all about that. But I am happy for him, it will encourage him and will motivate him further on. He is in the right direction. If he keeps going in this process, works hard, he can do even more and he can really help us achieve our goals. Everyone is happy for him. We need him, he can contribute, he can create. I think this team is much better than in his first season, we can play in the opponents' half, dictate the game and create chances."

24 SHOTS FOR THE REDS

"Actually, had we not conceded that early goal, we played quite decent and created chances. Alejandro Garnacho, twice, had to score. Marcel Sabitzer twice had good shots, Raphael Varane with the header. I think, if we equalise before half-time, we win the game. If we don't concede a goal after half-time, we will win that game but you cannot concede. Of course, it will encourage us for the second game in a couple of days that, if we play our game, we can beat them. And we have to beat them. But you need composure all the time. Also I think, in the last 20 minutes, when it is 2-2, we were composed and you will make chances and we created so many chances. The finishing wasn't always that good but we created them."

SUBSTITUTIONS WORKED

"I wanted to switch the dynamic on the game in that moment, as we were not in the game, we did not have good formations, and then we created chances. At 2-0 down, I saw the heads coming down so I wanted to make subs to bring a different dynamic to the team. That was a success. We came back and made great goals, good team goals. Facundo Pellistri and definitely Jadon Sancho, who scored a great second goal." 

ON TO SUNDAY

"We knew before how we were going to play, in a matter of attitude, a matter of style. But you have to be ready. You have to read that game, anticipate it right, you have to win the battles. And that is for everyone to take the responsibility and win the individual battles, then you win this game. We are not playing against the fans [at Elland Road]. You are playing the XI on the pitch. We have to be ready - not like today. We have to learn the lesson."