EPL: Erik Ten Hag issues showdown warning as he prepares to meet his players after their defeat to Arsenal
Manchester United Manager, Erik Ten Hag has announced there would be a showdown when he meets with his players today, Monday, January 23, 2023, to iron out their poor performances which led to their defeat to Arsenal.
The 3-2 loss at the Emirates Stadium in North London was a painful one for the team and Ten Hag, who had high expectations for the match against league leaders, Arsenal.
Ten Hag expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance and their inability to secure a draw against the league leaders.
He stated, “If you have a draw shortly before the end, you have to take it when you play against the number one at this moment. So I’m disappointed we didn’t do it.”
He went on to emphasize the importance of results in football, saying, “We have to accept that it’s football. It’s about results. You have to play till the ref whistles three times for the end. And you can’t switch off and that’s what we did.”
Ten Hag also highlighted the mistakes made by his team, which ultimately led to their defeat, saying, “All three goals, we made mistakes. I’ve already told the players we will be facing them tomorrow.” The Manchester United manager also issued a warning to his players, stating that he would be addressing their poor performances in a meeting the following day.
Despite the defeat, Ten Hag did have praise for Manchester United player, Marcus Rashford, saying, “I’m happy about Marcus Rashford’s performances. He’s on a very good run and he must continue.” However, when asked about the players’ reaction after going 2-1 down and coming back to equalize, Ten Hag was less positive, saying, “Like last week and also the period before the break we didn’t concede the goals we conceded today and this is not acceptable.”
The match between Arsenal and Manchester United was a thrilling encounter, with both teams showing their quality on the pitch. However, it was Arsenal who came out on top, solidifying their position as league leaders with 50 points. Manchester United, on the other hand, sit in 4th place with 39 points and will need to improve their performances if they hope to close the gap and challenge for the top spot. With the showdown meeting with the manager coming up, the players will have to take responsibility for their actions and work to improve their performances if they hope to secure a better result next time.
