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Erik ten Hag blasts Manchester United players’ lack of “passion” after their loss to Sevilla.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag harshly questioned his team’s ‘passion’ and ‘drive’ following their Europa League loss to Sevilla on Thursday night.
United, having already thrown away a 2-0 lead late in the first leg because of two own goals, made a disastrous start when Youssef En-Nesyri capitalised on a poor pass from David de Gea to Harry Maguire under pressure.
Following a corner goal by Loic Bade, En-Nesyri scored Sevilla’s second and the team’s third thanks to a disastrous De Gea miscue far from the goal.
But United barely even showed up for the entire 90 minutes against the unfriendly Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
“It’s clear. When you make such mistakes, it’s very difficult to win a football game,” Ten Hag stated as he spoke to BT Sport afterwards.
“We have to do better, that’s the demand. We were not composed, not calm. We didn’t beat the press, when you do there are so many spaces behind, and it was obvious at the start how to do it.
“We lost the battles, they had more passion, more desire, more willingness, that’s difficult to win games. We can’t run away from it. On Sunday [against Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final], we have another opportunity and have to step up and show more character and personality.”
Due to a ban, United were missing Bruno Fernandes, and preferred starting center backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez were both injured.
“It’s not about [the players who were missing], it’s about the players on the pitch,” Ten Hag said. “They have to perform. I believe in them and trust them, but they have to show it and they were not good enough.
“We have shown on so many occasions good things but we weren’t ready for the game. At this level, playing for Manchester United, you have to be ready for every game.
“This was a great opportunity, a great occasion, to win something and we gave it away – we have to blame ourselves. It’s gone, we can’t change it. We have to look forward to Sunday, that’s the next opportunity.”