Erik ten Hag, the Manchester United manager, has made headlines with his candid comments following a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League at Old Trafford. During a post-match interview, Ten Hag claimed, "I'm not Harry Potter," signaling his frustration over expectations for a quick fix to the team's current form. Despite the loss, Ten Hag expressed confidence in his coaching methods and reiterated that Manchester United remains one of the most successful clubs in recent years, second only to Manchester City.
Liverpool's dominant performance was highlighted by a brace from Luis Diaz and a goal from Mohamed Salah, securing a comprehensive victory over Manchester United. United, dealing with several injuries and the unavailability of new signing Manuel Ugarte, still fielded a lineup featuring three new summer arrivals. However, their efforts fell short against a formidable Liverpool side.
Reflecting on the match, Ten Hag acknowledged the difficulty of the defeat, especially for the fans, but stressed the importance of humility and learning from the experience. "It's just the third game of the season," Ten Hag noted, "We have to build a new team. We have young players and others who are playing their first full matches of the season."
Ten Hag remains optimistic about the future, insisting that by the end of the season, Manchester United will be in contention for another trophy. He highlighted the gradual integration of players like Manuel Ugarte, who is still working on his fitness before he can fully contribute to the team.
The Dutch manager also responded to criticism about United's recent Premier League performances, which saw them finish eighth last season. When questioned about the possibility of poor coaching contributing to the team's struggles, Ten Hag firmly defended his track record, pointing out that since his arrival, Manchester United has won more major trophies than any other English club besides Manchester City. "You don't win trophies and beat big opponents without good coaching," Ten Hag retorted.
Additionally, Ten Hag addressed rumors about Casemiro leaving Old Trafford at half-time following a subpar performance. He clarified, "I met him after the game in the dressing room; he didn’t leave at half-time. We needed to make tactical changes because we were 2-0 down against a quality team like Liverpool."
Looking ahead, Ten Hag called for responsibility and resilience from his squad, confident that players like Casemiro, with his decorated career, will bounce back and continue to perform at the highest level. As Manchester United strives to improve, Ten Hag remains focused on building a competitive team capable of challenging for silverware this season.
