Manchester United’s Manager Erik ten Hag asked fans to be patient after Thursday’s thrilling 3-3 home draw against Porto in the Europa League, only rescued with a last-gasp equalizer by Harry Maguire.
Ten Hag has been on the receiving end after United poorly [has performed] in the English Premier League with Only two wins in their first six matches placing the team in the 13th position. Also, Manchester United is in the 21st position in the set of thirty-six teams who are participating in the competition, having been able to play only two games in the Europa League and draw both of them.
“Some of you turned against us now,” said Ten Hag. “Every one of those said he wants me to leave the club. Just wait until the end of the season. We’ll improve. The last two seasons mentioned have taken us to finals. So alright just wait patiently — we will get this team formed and progress this team.”
Ten Hag has stood for his work as he landed a League Cup and FA Cup in his first two years to help United win for the first time in six years. Last season’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City is said to have earned him his stay despite the team’s eighth position on the English Premier League.
However, the United hierarchy might have to make some changes in his position in case, if there isn’t any significant improvement in the result. Their next league match is against Aston Villa in the upcoming Sunday which can be decisive, given the fact the top players will be representing their countries in the following break.
United was quick off the block in Porto with Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Højlund scoring within the first twenty minutes to give United a comfortable 2-0 lead. However, United have not been able to triumph in their away matches in Europe and have recorded their last four successive away European games without triumphing, however, they have been scoring three goals in every fixture.
They exited the Champions League group stage at the group stages after losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich, losing 2-1 to FC Copenhagen, and managing only a 3-3 draw with Galatasaray. In Estádio do Dragão, another six-goal match was witnessed, with Porto’s Pepe and Samu Omorodion making it 1-1 before the break. Omorodion thrust Porto in front in acutely the second half, and matters grew even worse for United after the dismissal of Bruno Fernandes who was dun in two straight games.
But United was saved by a Maguire header in the stoppage time, which saw the Red Devils garner a draw. Speaking after the match, Maguire admitted that the team had problems with defense. ‘I think when you come away from home and you’re 2-0 up, you want to be more tight.’ We blacked too many crosses, and that cost us dearly,” he said.
Maguire has fallen out of the Old Trafford regular starting lineup and has been replaced by De Ligt, but he has stood behind Ten Hag knowing that playing for such a giant club like United comes with trying. ‘I have been here six years — I would know how it operates’. It is a familiar pattern that when things turn worse the players suffer along with managers. But he’s not naive enough to let him get away with it. It is one of the things that come with playing for this club,” Maguire added.
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