Two deflected goals at the end of the Europa League match turned a comfortable night into a frustrating one for the home side.
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Manchester United suffered late heartbreak in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals against Sevilla by throwing away a two-goal lead. The Red Devils were sitting in a comfortable position in the game and were cruising to victory at one stage. The dominance of United was such that the Spanish side hardly threatened the home side’s defence. However, Man United never managed to kill the game, which allowed the visitors the motivation to mount a late push for goals and they got them.
Two deflected goals at the end of the match turned a comfortable night into a frustrating one for the home side. Reflecting on the Europa League game, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag told Sky Sports, “It says something about the position where we are. It still shows we need progress, especially on the psychological side of the game. We have to manage games better; we have to stay in games or not allow opponents to come back into games. We have to step up with certain mental strengths and certain mental standards.”
“I think we have come a long way. I also think there were some traumatic experiences this group had in previous years. Sevilla was a good learning moment for us. We need to think about that and learn from those moments who has to take the lead and which standards we have to control in certain moments to avoid letting the opponent back into the game.”
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Now, ten Hag is only focussed on the team bouncing back from the setback. Next up for Manchester United is a Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on Sunday. “The biggest teams always show composure in those moments and stick to the plan, stay in the game and find a way to bounce back. What we are capable of is bouncing back between games, now the next step is to bounce back in the game,” he explained.
“If you want to get back to winning trophies, that has to be the standard you always deliver. That you manage games and get wins over the line. In many games already we have shown it, so we know we can do it because we have the evidence for it. But we have to do it, always.”
Manchester United have largely done well this campaign in Erik ten Hag’s first season as manager. Their squad also seems to be filled with quality players all over the pitch except for a world-class striker up front. “Everyone is different, obviously, but for a striker the main thing is to score goals by any method, that is so far ahead of anything else,” ten Hag elaborated.
“We need a striker who scores goals because we have ability in the team to put balls in the box, so we need a striker to finish. We have to build a new future and we need a striker who not only scores goals but contributes by linking up play very well and pressing, which is very important.”
