Manchester United's manager Erik Ten Hag has expressed his disappointment following a frustrating 2-2 stalemate against Leeds United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils were on a 13-game consecutive home winning streak and looked like they would comfortably deal with Leeds United and avoid any upset due to their home form this season. However, things went south for Erik Ten Hag's men as they fought back from two goals down to rescue a point.
Leeds United took an early lead, as Wilfried Gnonto sent Old Trafford into shock just 1 minute into the game. The Red Devils searched for the equalizer but ended the first half 1-0 down. The second half started with Raphael Varane turning a Leeds United cross into his own net beyond the reach of a helpless David De Gea.
Erik Ten Hag made a double substitution, as Wout Weghorst and Alejandro Gernacho came off for Jadon Sancho and Facundo Pellistri. This change paid off as Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho found the net with two quick strikes to level the game against Leeds United. The host had to settle for a draw as the visitors didn't yield to their pressure and attacks any further.
After the game, Erik Ten Hag expressed his frustrations with his side's sluggish starts and was totally unimpressed, but credited them for fighting back to level up the game. When asked how he felt about Manchester United conceding an early goal, the 53-year-old brutally replied: "Very poor." It's unacceptable. "You start any game, but especially a derby, the way we did," he told MUTV.
"We were down and had to fight back." We made big mistakes. That has 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."
The manager went to address the reasons behind the team's sluggish starts in both halves of the game.
"The players know we have to move." It wasn't necessary; [Pascal] Struijk won 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," he explained.
The manager emphasized how the changes he made turned the game in Manchester United's favor. The Dutch tactician had to take off youngster Alejandro Gernacho and striker Wout Weghorst for Facundo Pellistri and Jadon Sancho in the second half, which sparked the Red Devils' fightback.
"I wanted to switch the dynamic of the game in that moment, as we were not in the game and we did not have good formations, and then we created chances," he stated.
"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 scored great team goals. Facundo Pellistri and definitely Jadon Sancho, who scored a great second goal."
The manager, however, edified his side and appreciated them for showing their fighting spirit in a game already headed to be Manchester United's loss.
"I have to give compliments to the team for their resilience and the way they fight back." "I think we make some really good footballing decisions, great chances, and, finally, we finish and score two great goals."
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