Summary:
- Man United drew 1-1 against Twente in Europa League opening game.
- The poor result was criticised by Erik ten Hag and Christian Eriksen.
- United were unable to force a winner following Eriksen’s goal in 35’.
- Manchester United’s Europa League campaign got off to a shaky start with a 1-1 draw against FC Twente.
The UEFA Europa League result left manager Erik ten Hag and midfielder Christian Eriksen frustrated by the team’s lack of desire and intensity.
Ten Hag, who spent 23 years with Twente as a player and coach, returned to face his former club, but it was far from a warm reunion for the Dutch manager.
“They Looked Like They Wanted It More Than Us”
The match was off to a good start, with Christian Eriksen giving the hosts a first-half lead at Old Trafford.
The Danish midfielder unleashed a powerful strike that put United ahead in front of a sold-out crowd. (35’)
However, United’s performance dipped significantly in the second half, eventually leading to FC Twente’s equalizer scored by Sam Lammers (68’) who sealed what was both a shocking and memorable 1-1 draw for the Dutch side.
Reflecting on the disappointing result, Eriksen spoke about the team’s lack of energy and desire to TNT Sports.
Mostly disappointed as a team, Obviously, we wanted more, but in the end, it was far from good enough. They looked like they wanted it more than us, and that can’t be right.
“We Were Too Easy-Going”
Eriksen’s comments were echoed by Ten Hag in his post-match press conference.
The United boss acknowledged the disparity in effort between the two teams, stating that FC Twente treated it as “the game of their life,” fighting “for every yard”, which he could not say about his side.
99 percent is not enough. You have to give 100 percent. You have to kill the game, finish it off
Despite United dominating possession and creating 18 attempts on goal, they struggled to find a second goal and allowed Twente to stay in the game.
Ten Hag emphasized the need for his players to be more clinical, especially after a similarly frustrating 0-0 draw on Saturday against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Today, especially in the second half, I think we were too easy-going, too complacent. We didn’t bring it over the line and, as a team, you have to deliver this.
The manager, who joined Man United in 2022, made sure to turn the criticism on him as well, acknowledging it was “not only the team” and that he also needs to look in the mirror especially after his future was questioned last month.
Next up will be Spurs at Old Trafford for the Reds – Can they put their frustrations aside and get the return they want? Get all the Best Non UK Betting Odds from our selected sportsbooks.