Ten Hag: A concentration lapse cost us

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Erik ten Hag rued the fleeting moment his team “switched off” as he reflected on Manchester United’s Premier League defeat away to West Ham United.

He felt that momentary lapse in concentration enabled Jarrod Bowen to break the deadlock, in the 72nd minute of a game that was previously under the Reds’ control. Six minutes later, Mohammed Kudus – who played under Ten Hag at his previous club Ajax – doubled the Hammers’ advantage after another uncharacteristic error.

That quickfire brace of goals meant the Reds were on the wrong end of a disappointing away defeat, on a day when debutant Willy Kambwala and the vastly experienced Jonny Evans formed our 10th different centre-back partnership of the season.

You can read Erik’s quotes from his post-match interview with TNT Sports below…

Erik’s post-match press conference Video

Erik’s post-match press conference

Press conference | Ten Hag addresses the team’s lack of goals and Hojlund’s early withdrawal v West Ham…

WE WERE IN CONTROL

“Our performance was telling me it’s a game [that was] not alive. I think we were controlling the game. I think we performed very solid, controlling the game in possession. Also, we didn’t give chances away, not on transition, but then we had to score. We had opportunities and we didn’t do it. And then I think with one moment of switching off, we conceded a goal.”

MARCUS THROUGH THE MIDDLE

“He has done that before and been successful, in so many games last season. So we have the options there. I think Marcus [Rashford] can play all the positions in the front. He can play across, but [his] most effective [position] probably is down the middle or from inside left.”

LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN ATTACK

“It is always [the case] when the strikers don’t score for a couple of games, then the confidence will go, will decrease. But they have to believe. And they proved in the past they can do. So work hard, invest. Also as a team, we have to make the passes that come in the final third. But then also we have to demand each other that we have to make [it into] the box.”

CENTRE-BACK PARTNERSHIPS – AN ISSUE?

“But they played well. Of course, you want to have routines and when the routines are not there, then you concede, probably more like we did now. I think when the routines are in, I think you saw these moments [are] out [of our game].”