Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expressed his disappointment after his side’s 1-1 draw against Turkish giants Fenerbahce in their UEFA Europa League clash. The match, played in Istanbul, saw United take an early lead but fail to secure victory, leaving ten Hag to reflect on missed opportunities and areas for improvement as his team looks ahead to their next crucial fixtures.
With Manchester United’s European campaign under increasing scrutiny, ten Hag stressed the importance of winning games, particularly when in a leading position. The Dutchman was also pleased with the performance of new signing Manuel Ugarte, who played a key role in midfield, but acknowledged there is still work to be done for the team to achieve the consistent results they expect at Old Trafford.
Missed Opportunities and the Need to Close Out Games
Ten Hag began his post-match interview by addressing the result, focusing on the missed chances that allowed Fenerbahce to get back into the game after Manchester United had taken the lead. United started brightly, scoring the opening goal, but were unable to convert further opportunities that could have secured the three points.
“Two tough away games. Of course, when you are taking the lead, it [drawing] shouldn’t happen,” ten Hag said, acknowledging that the team’s inability to hold on to their advantage was frustrating. “We had chances to make a second goal, disappointed not to win. At Old Trafford, we have to win games.”
United’s struggles to finish off matches, particularly away from home, have been a recurring theme this season. Ten Hag’s frustration was clear as he reflected on the need for the team to maintain focus and capitalize on their attacking chances to secure wins, especially in the tightly contested Europa League.
Ugarte’s Standout Performance and His Role in United’s Midfield
One of the positive takeaways from the match was the performance of United’s summer signing, Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguayan midfielder has taken time to settle into the team, but ten Hag praised his contribution, noting that Ugarte’s display in the match was his best since joining the club.
“Yes, I think so,” ten Hag said when asked if it was Ugarte’s best performance for United so far. “He has to come into the team. The six role is very important. He has to learn how we play. I was happy with his performance today.”
“We have to take the point and at Old Trafford we have to win games”
Erik ten Hag reflects on Manchester United’s draw against Fenerbahçe pic.twitter.com/xjzjqfx6sl
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 24, 2024
Ugarte’s role as a holding midfielder, occupying the “six” position, is crucial in ten Hag’s system, providing balance between defense and attack. The United boss was keen to highlight the importance of the role, stressing that Ugarte’s development and adaptation to the team’s style of play will be key to Manchester United’s success going forward. His composure on the ball and ability to disrupt Fenerbahce’s attacking play were standout features of his game, giving ten Hag confidence in the player’s future potential.
The Decision Not to Start Amad Diallo
Another topic ten Hag addressed was the decision not to start winger Amad Diallo, who has shown promise in recent appearances but was left on the bench at the start of the Fenerbahce match. The manager explained that starting with four attackers in an away European fixture would have been too risky, opting instead for a more balanced approach to deal with Fenerbahce’s attacking threat.
“Away from Europe to start with four attackers is too much,” ten Hag explained. “I made him [Mazraoui] a full-back. He was always a number 10. I knew he could fill in with that role, he had a big role in the goal. You can always move him back.”
Ten Hag’s tactical flexibility was on display, as he adapted his formation and used Noussair Mazraoui, typically a right-back, in a more advanced position. Mazraoui’s involvement in United’s goal justified the manager’s decision, and ten Hag was also quick to praise Amad’s contribution when he did come on later in the game.
“Amad had some good actions,” ten Hag added. “Antony is training very good. Amad had some good actions.” The competition for places in the attacking positions is fierce, and ten Hag’s rotation of players highlights the importance of squad depth in navigating the long European and domestic campaigns.
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Fenerbahce’s Quality and the Challenge They Presented
Despite his disappointment in not securing the win, ten Hag was respectful of Fenerbahce’s quality, acknowledging that the Turkish side, coached by his predecessor Jose Mourinho, posed significant challenges for United throughout the match.
“Fenerbahce are a very good club, with very good fans and some good players,” ten Hag said, praising the home team’s ability to create chances and make life difficult for his side. “We should keep the ball better in the first half. We should score more goals, but to be honest, they also created good chances. They gave us some problems. They are a good team with a good manager. It is not a bad point.”
While ten Hag accepted the draw as a fair result given the balance of play, he made it clear that Manchester United’s ambitions are higher. “We want to win, we want to win every game,” he emphasized, reiterating that the team must improve its game management, particularly when playing away in tough European environments.
Looking Forward: Building on the Positives
The draw in Istanbul left Manchester United with much to reflect on, but there were also positive signs for the team as they continue their Europa League journey. The performance of players like Ugarte, the tactical flexibility shown by ten Hag, and the ability to create chances in a hostile environment were all encouraging aspects of the match.
However, ten Hag’s focus remains on winning, and he will be pushing his team to learn from their mistakes and capitalize on their opportunities in the matches ahead. As they return to Old Trafford, the United boss will expect nothing less than victory from his players, as he works to instill the mentality of a team that competes for silverware on all fronts.
With a string of important fixtures on the horizon, Manchester United will need to build on the positives from their European draw and translate them into consistent results, both in Europe and the Premier League.
