Ten Hag: United didn’t finish fight in Twente draw

Erik ten Hag questioned his players’ mentality after Manchester United‘s 1-1 draw with FC Twente in the Europa League by saying that the Dutch side “fought for every yard and we didn’t.”

United led through Christian Eriksen‘s first-half goal, but were pegged back in the second half when Sam Lammers took advantage of Eriksen’s mistake to score the equaliser.

Eriksen said afterwards that FC Twente “wanted it more” and when the assessment was put to Ten Hag, the United manager agreed.

“Yes, you saw it was the game of their life,” said Ten Hag. “They fought for every yard and we didn’t and 99 percent is not enough, you have to give 100 percent.

“You have to kill the game, you have to finish it off. You have to go for the second goal and then you kill the game.

“We are very ambitious and when you have ambition you have to perform, prove the point. Especially today in the second half we were too complacent, we didn’t bring it over the line and as a team.”

Ten Hag was especially disappointed United could not make more of their chances. The trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday ended in a 0-0 draw and despite having 19 attempts against Twente, they could only manage one goal.

Finding the net has been a problem all season with United scoring just five goals in five games in the Premier League.

“We have to work on this,” said Ten Hag. “That’s also clear. We have to be more clinical in such situations, but I don’t think that was the only problem tonight. We have to keep going in the second half. Be more consistent. Kill it off, get the second goal and the game is over.

“We have across the frontline enough players who can score goals.”