Erik ten Hag admitted that his Manchester United squad is “in a bad place” after suffering yet another humbling loss to Newcastle United, but he reiterated that he is “a fighter” despite mounting concerns regarding his position as manager at Old Trafford.
Despite making eight substitutions, Newcastle’s manager Eddie Howe led his team to a 3-0 victory over United at Old Trafford, which marked the Magpies’ second win in as many days and advanced them to the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup.
Manchester United boss Ten Hag admits team ‘in a bad place’
Throughout the entirety of the match, the supporters of Newcastle United jeered at the Dutch head coach, who had previously been successful at Ajax, by chanting that he would be sacked the next day. Despite the fact that there has been no evidence to suggest that Ten Hag’s position is in jeopardy, United’s dismal form is becoming an increasing source of concern.
“I am a fighter,” Ten Hag declared in his postmatch news conference. “I get it; when the results aren’t there, it is a logical process that they are questioning that. I completely understand that.” But I am positive that I will be able to accomplish it.
“At all my clubs I have done it, and also last year here I did it as well, but at this moment we are in a bad place.”
United have now lost back-to-back games at Old Trafford by three or more goals for the first time since 1962. In addition, United have now lost five of their first 10 home games in a season for the first time since 1930. This is the worst start to a home schedule for United since the club moved to Old Trafford in 1930.
The heavily rotated Newcastle squad scored three goals thanks to contributions from Miguel Almirón, Lewis Hall, and Joe Willock, while the United club could only produce two shots on target.
“It is below the standards everyone expects from Manchester United,” said Ten Hag further. “By a wide margin, it is not satisfactory. We have to put things back in order. I accept responsibility for what happened. My team is struggling, and I can’t do much about it. I am liable for it, even though I have to tell my players about it.
There is no room for excuses because, as a team, we are not good enough; it does not matter what the reasons are. We need to improve how we do things, and we need to elevate our standards, because if we don’t, we’ll never have the levels and performance we need, and we won’t ever get the results we want.
The triumph was a measure of payback for Howe’s team, which will now move on to face Chelsea in the quarterfinals of the competition. Last year, Manchester United won the Carabao Cup after beating Newcastle in the final.