What Erik ten Hag told Manchester United players at half time vs Leeds
Sunday’s rematch between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road may require Erik ten Hag to reemphasize Leeds United’s intensity in his team talk.
Wilfried Gnonto scored after 56 seconds to give Leeds a 1-0 lead at Old Trafford. Within three minutes of the restart, Raphael Varane scored an own goal to give Leeds a 2-0 lead.
Even though United rallied to earn a 2-2 draw, Ten Hag was dissatisfied with the manner in which both Leeds goals were scored, as Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho were dispossessed in the moves leading to each goal.
According to Ten Hag, United’s formation was problematic in the opening seconds of the game because they were so unprepared.
“I think we could expect that (Leeds’s aggression) so I was really disappointed.
“As always, I take it to myself. We talk about they have to be ready and what the approach from them would be. Maybe we should have emphasised it even more, I don’t know. I have to think about it, I have to reflect on it. But definitely, it was the truth that in each half we were not ready.
“I started my talk at half-time with “eh, come on guys, we are not ready, make sure when we go out for the second half, make it ready, then you equalise and you win the game”.
“But then in the second half it’s the same and you concede a goal so quickly because the opponent is on the front foot, is aggressive, is winning challenges, that’s the point where I am most disappointed about. We lose all the battles in the first minutes of each half.
“Sometimes, yeah (I shout at the players). I have mixed feelings. So I have to compliment them with the way they fight back. I think they can do more and you have to be proactive and don’t let it happen. You think we go into a game, come on, it’s a battle. You have to be ready for the battle.”
Ten Hag downplayed the raucous atmosphere in the away end at Old Trafford. “We’re not playing against the fans, you’re playing against the XI who are on the pitch.
“So come on, take your responsibility, first deal with the ball – that was the first mistake – we have good football players. But also make sure we are playing in the right formation because there was a problem with the first goal; there was a wrong decision from the movement from one player.
“Then second: win your battles. Win your battles. Then it’s not possible you concede such goals we did. Third point: the rules. Make sure you’re disciplined in the rules and in that manner it’s too easy how we concede the goals.”
What Erik ten Hag told Manchester United players at half time vs Leeds
