Manchester United coach Erik Ten Hag has blamed fundamental errors for his side’s 3-2 defeat to Turkish Super Lig club Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, October 3 at Old Trafford.
Danish Forward Rasmus Hojlund gave United the lead in the 17th minute and Wilfred Zaha equalised for Galatasaray six minutes later.
Hojlund scored once again for the Red Devils in the 67th minute but Mohammed Aktorkoglu levelled the scores in the 71st minute.
United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana’s misplaced pass went to the away team’s forward Dries Mertens leaving Casemiro with no choice but to foul Mertens causing a penalty kick. Casemiro was red carded for the challenge.
Argentine strike Mauro Icardi missed the resultant penalty however he scored moments later with a chip over Onana.
In an interview with Brian Sports as quoted by manutd.com, Ten Hag said the team would need to improve.
“I think we were up twice and we were controlling the game,” Ten Hag said.
“And then yeah some errors, some fundamental errors we make (which) we don’t normally wouldn’t have in the game . And you can’t allow them in this level, you get punished for it.
“It’s difficult to control, but we are all together in this. It’s not only one making such an error, it’s as a team we make such errors, so you don’t win the game which was totally unnecessary because as I said, you are twice up, so you are in control of the game and then you don’t expect this outcome.
“It’s not easy to score goals in this (Champions) League so you have to be more focused and co-operate so you don’t concede goals so quickly (after scoring). But it’s also about keeping the ball and keeping control of the game, and we have to improve in that fact.”
Manchester United are last place in Group A of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League with zero points after matchday two.
They have won the Champions League three times (1967/68, 1999/99 and 2007/08).
Next up for the Red Devils is a Premier League clash with Brentford on Saturday, October 7 at Old Trafford.
They are currently in tenth position on the Premier League table with nine points from seven matches.
Galatasaray have never won the Champions League.
Galatasaray are second in Champions League Group A with four points from two games.
