The tendency of Manchester United to give up goals nearly immediately after scoring them has been acknowledged by Christian Eriksen as a serious issue.
Erik ten Hag, whose position has been under growing scrutiny in recent weeks, has overseen the Red Devils’ worst start to a season in 37 years. Following their defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League, United’s current run took a turn for the worst in the middle of the week.
Rasmus Hojlund gave United the lead twice at Old Trafford, but both times the Turkish champions responded nearly immediately. Then, with just two games played, Mauro Icardi scored a late winner for Galatasaray to leave United winless and last in Group A.
United has struggled on defense so far this season in the Premier League, as they have dropped four of their first seven games. Eriksen is sure that failing to remain alert during crucial situations is having a negative impact.
The Danish midfielder said to TNT Sports on Tuesday night, “I think we had some good periods in the game, but right now when we go ahead, we always seem to concede shortly after.” Naturally, that makes it very difficult for us to maintain control of the game, and we must swiftly remedy that.
“I don’t think it’s confidence, I think it’s more a lack of awareness and sharpness to really keep ourselves in form and stay ahead twice – we shouldn’t be throwing that away and we’ve done that in other games this season,” the player said. We’re merely choosing the incorrect course of action when it’s too late, and it’s costing us, not a lack of confidence, in my opinion.
Ten Hag must tighten up United’s defense after they had allowed 11 goals in their first seven league games of the season. Though Andre Onana’s rocky start at Old Trafford and Lisandro Martinez’s absence haven’t helped his cause, they haven’t helped either.
Prior to the international break, the Red Devils will play Brentford at Old Trafford in a critical matchup. Ten Hag needs a win after overseeing back-to-back losses.
In spite of United’s mediocre start to the season, both domestically and in Europe, chief executive Richard Arnold made it clear to workers that the club was still wholly behind Ten Hag at an extraordinary meeting, according to The Telegraph.