Ten Hag gives verdict on dramatic Porto draw
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag endured mixed emotions on Thursday evening, as his team squandered a two-goal lead against FC Porto, before salvaging a point in the dying minutes.
The incisive attacking play of United's front three, Amad, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashord, helped us carve out a 2-0 lead inside just 20 minutes in Portugal, but the hosts responded to level by half-time.
Thereafter, a third goal for the Portuguese and a second yellow card for Bruno Fernandes seemed to have condemned United to a second defeat in five days, but Harry Maguire guided home a header in added time to earn us an important point.
It was an action-packed game, with goals galore, cards awarded continuously, and some promising individual displays. After the final whistle, Erik gave his thoughts on all of the above to UK broadcaster TNT Sports...
Thereafter, a third goal for the Portuguese and a second yellow card for Bruno Fernandes seemed to have condemned United to a second defeat in five days, but Harry Maguire guided home a header in added time to earn us an important point.
It was an action-packed game, with goals galore, cards awarded continuously, and some promising individual displays. After the final whistle, Erik gave his thoughts on all of the above to UK broadcaster TNT Sports...
FC Porto 3 Manchester United 3
ArticleDespite having 10 men, the Reds grab a late point in Portugal, thanks to Harry Maguire.
OUR DEFENDING LET US DOWN
“We started the game very good, we dominated, scored two good goals, but then we lost control. So the start was good, the middle part was not good, and then we finished very good. It's a tough place to go, so coming back from 3-2 we get the equaliser, which is good for the spirit. You see again that the team has a really strong character, but the middle part, the defending, we have to improve.”
WHY WE LOST CONTROL
“First of all, we must be better on the ball. [We needed to continue] like the first part: keep switching where we had our free players. We had a good plan – in our half-spaces we had our free players. So use them and more goals will come.”
WE CREATED ENOUGH TO WIN
“We had three clean sheets not so long ago, so we can defend very good. But we have to go back to those habits. Only then can you win games. When you score three times in an away game in Europe, it must be enough.”
WHY I SUBBED RASHFORD
“We have to rotate. Garnacho, we didn't start him. He had a great game, not only on Sunday, but I think in the whole season. We sub them [the players who went off] because on Sunday we have another hard game, a good game, so we need players to be available and be fit and be fresh. It's a quick turnaround to Villa. They have a day longer [to recover] and we have an away game, so we want fresh players on the pitch.”
JUDGE US OVER THE SEASON
“We will get there. Don't judge us in this moment. Judge us at the end of the season. We are in the process and we will improve. We are now two seasons where we achieve finals. We have to develop and progress this team.”
THE STAFF AND SQUAD ARE TOGETHER
“We will work and we will continue and we will fight. You see the spirit and the connection between the staff and the team. Between the players, together, there's a strong spirit. We want to achieve and we are in that [same] direction. We have that mentality and spirit-wise, but especially in some defending parts, we have to step up.”