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KEY POINTS
- Erik ten Hag showcases his displeasure with Manchester United’s loss
- They were headed for a draw when Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah scored the last-minute winner
- Veteran defender Luke Shaw agrees with yen Hag’s assessment
Manchester United had seen themselves dust off the early-season jitters and are in prime contention for a top-four finish in the English Premier League, but their last-minute loss to Arsenal has manager Erik ten Hag frustrated.
The Red Devils were on pace to salvage a draw against Arsenal in front of the latter’s home crowd at the Emirates Stadium, but Eddie Nketiah found the back of the net in the final minute of the match to break their hearts.
“[A]t this moment I am annoyed. I also told the players if you want to win trophies, titles, we have to change our mentality,” ten Hag said as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“A point was the maximum and then you have to take the point and you can’t give such a goal away like we did on top level. Then you can’t win trophies.”
Ten Hag has been largely credited with the change of pace that Manchester United fans have been seeing from their players as mostly everyone has been firing on all cylinders this season.
Marcus Rashford has proven himself to be the club’s eminent scorer, Bruno Fernandes has completely settled in as their lead playmaker, Raphael Varane has returned to form and Luke Shaw is the veteran serving as their guiding light.
In his own post-match interview, Shaw acknowledged how they grew passive in the second half.
“In the second half, we deserved that, we were a bit passive and let them control the game completely. We were fighting to the last second but we have to concentrate for the full game and one lapse in concentration could cost you a goal,” he was quoted to have said.
A big piece of the puzzle that led to their loss against one of their fiercest rivals is that of Casemiro, arguably their most important signing in recent memory, after being booked for his fifth yellow card of the season in a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace–an instant suspension in the next match.
Things have undoubtedly changed in the hallowed halls of Old Trafford since ten Hag signed on and gained full control of the squad, and though there are those who would disapprove of him berating his players’ post-match interviews, his methods are working.
Motivation and dedication to the club’s success have been one of Manchester United’s biggest missing pieces in recent years, but Ten Hag is doing his hardest to bring back Manchester United to relevancy.
Had they salvaged a draw against Arsenal, Manchester United would have been third in the Premier League, but are currently tied in points with Newcastle United at 39–good for fourth.
Their next three matches will see them in English League Cup and English FA Cup ties as they take on Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, January 25 and February 1, and Reading on Saturday, January 28.
Manchester United’s next bit of Premier League action will see them take on Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on February 4.
