Ten Hag insisted that coaches can only give them guidelines and instructions before the match but it is the players who have to take the responsibility on the pitch.
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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was understandably a disappointed man on Sunday after seeing his United side suffer a 2-0 loss to Newcastle United. Even though Newcastle had to wait till the second half for the goals, they were thoroughly deserving of the win. Man United were never really in the game and looked a shadow of their usual self. Next up for the Red Devils is home game against Brentford.
Ahead of the match, ten Hag insisted that coaches can only give them guidelines and instructions before the match but it is the players who have to take the responsibility on the pitch. “Absolutely. We give them instructions, we give them guidelines but on the pitch they have to take responsibility as a team and they have to make the game. On the sideline you have an influence, but it’s not as big anymore [once they’re on the pitch],” he was quoted as saying by the club’s website.
“You give them a game plan and that has to be a guideline but from then on they have to make the game and find solutions and that is all about communication, because through communication you get organisation and when you get that pretty well, you’ve got the best chance of winning games. It’s all about that, to win games as a team.”
Speaking about the message given to the players ahead of the upcoming game, ten Hag said, “We have already given the message. Every gameday you have to match the standards and Sunday we were below our standards and our expectations. We got beaten and that was justified and deserved, because we didn’t play our best game.”
Erik ten Hag also stated that everyone has to get the motivation out of themselves to play their best football. “Of course, you can take something. Always I think you have to get the motivation out of yourself: you want to play your best football. But when you face Brentford, you have to play the absolute best football because it’s a really good team, well-structured and in every stage of the game they play brilliant football. When you don’t match the high standards, it’s a big problem,” he elaborated.
Manchester United return to Old Trafford for their next game. Asked how important is to get a good start, the manager replied, “Yes, as always. But that [a good start] is a demand we expect from the players, the team and Manchester United. It doesn’t matter if you play away or at home. Of course, we like to play at Old Trafford, because we know it will be a great ambiance as long as we, as a team, give the energy.”
