Erik Ten Hag Accuses His Manchester United Players Of Not Giving 100% Effort

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has accused his players of not giving 100% effort in their 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.

United took a 2-0 lead in the first half with goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, but after the interval the quality of their performance plummeted.

During the second half United conceded two goals and by the end were relieved to escape from north London with a point.

“We thought 90% is enough, that’s why we gave balls away,” Ten Hag said after the game. “And when you don’t do your jobs in positioning, you concede goals.”

“After half time there was a difference, we lost control because we are not all secure. Then you have to go into the fight. When you lose the battles, don’t have possession and don’t have chances you concede goals. That’s what happened. Then you have to be satisfied and take that point.”

“It has to be [100%]. You have to bring it every time. I know that they are not robots and it’s a tough schedule. But we can’t accept it when you are playing for Man Utd and you are wearing this shirt.”

“You have to give [100%] in every occasion, every game. And as a team, you have to manage the game, get the win, and that makes everyone happy and satisfied.”

“But the basis is always to give everything, and that’s how you have to prepare as a player, that you are ready for the game, for the battle, for the fight.”

Ten Hag highlighted that United’s game at Tottenham was their 54^th of a congested season. “We have the worst schedule in the Premier League, that will not change,” he replied when asked if his players were tired playing just four days after their FA Cup semi-final against Brighton and Hove Albion went to extra-time at Wembley.

“You have to take that. You can’t use it as an excuse. The time is enough time to recover, so our players are in demand to be ready. Today they were not ready.”

Ten Hag’s second half substitutions were widely criticised for they gave his side almost no improvement and appeared to strip them of most of their momentum.

In the second half he brought on Antony Martial, who offered little, Fred, who constantly lost possession in an alarmingly poor display, Tyrell Malacia, who looked a liability and was partly at fault for Tottenham’s equaliser, and Wout Weghorst, who has now not scored in 12 appearances in the Premier League.

“I prepared the subs already before 2-1, you could see that goal coming,” he said. “You bring on Fred, who has energy, one who can win the ball. Sunday against Brighton, he was brilliant in that.”

“You bring Martial who can keep the ball. You then bring Rashy, Antony, Bruno making runs behind. That was the idea.”

“We come into every game to win, but it was clear how they managed the game. We wanted to win, which we didn’t do. I think before the draw was okay. But when you see this game, when you are 2-0 up, of course then you have to manage the game and put it over the line.”