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Erik ten Hag reveals key area Man united have struggled in this season.
Erik ten Hag thinks Manchester United have had trouble so far this season because of one issue above all others.
This season, the Red Devils have dropped six of their first 10 games across all leagues, including two straight losses in the Champions League group stages.
This season, a number of United’s top players have struggled, and personal mistakes have played a part in this. United has frequently had a strong start to games but failed to capitalize on its opportunities before faltering after the opponent scored.
Before Brentford’s visit on Saturday, Ten Hag acknowledged at a news conference that there is one crucial area his team isn’t adequately handling.
“Consistency, that is the problem we are struggling with,” the Dutchman proclaimed. “In parts of the game, I will say in big parts of the game, we do a lot of things right but then there are moments where we are struggling and in such moments we can’t survive.
“In this moment, you have to do the right things, so be consistent and do the job, be consistent in the communication, and when you do that you keep the right organisation and do it like before.
“Definitely you can mark such a moment as when we score a goal or concede a goal and when decisive moments go against us, we lose a bit as a team. Over big parts, in 95 per cent of the game, we are a team, so keep going all the way through and we have to step up.
“Most important in such moments is you keep on one page and it starts with communication.”
Marcus Rashford, who for the first time in his career surpassed the 30-goal barrier last season, has scored only one in nine games this year, falling far short of the expectations placed on him.
“Of course, everyone knows the qualities of him, but also the opposition knows the qualities [of him]. But if Rashy is doing the things right and the team is doing the things right, we will put him in the right places and then it is up to him,” Ten Hag said of Rashford.
“We have seen in the last [few] weeks that he is coming in the good positions, now he is struggling, but this will pass because everyone knows his qualities.
“Everyone at Man Utd supports him and the whole team is supportive to him, believes in him. So I am sure, with that confidence and belief, that the team is behind him. This will change and it will pass.
“Strikers, when they don’t score for a moment, they need that one goal, then they step over [it].
“It will come and he is so experienced, he knows that as well. When he is doing the right things and the team is doing the right things, that momentum will come and he will be on fire.”