Erik ten Hag slams Manchester United forwards after Wolves win

 

Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag slammed the team’s forwards despite a 1-0 win in their opening match of the Premier League 2023-23 season against Wolves at Old Trafford on Monday night.

The Manchester United strikers failed to grab their chances and the Dutchman feels they could have done a better job. Skipper Bruno Fernandes was careless with the ball and could not lead from the front.

Manchester United took 15 shots on the goal whereas the visitors took a total of 23 shots on the goal, the most by a visiting side at Old Trafford in the league since Chelsea in November 2005.

However, Manchester United were able to grab three crucial points after defender Raphael Varane scored from a header from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross.

“I think we could have scored five or six turnovers and there were overloads,” Ten Hag said as quoted by Manchester United Evening News. “But I think the frontline was not in the best form today and we could have made more out of it from the overload situations.

“Last week, we scored some incredible goals. This week, it’s the form of the day and we didn’t, but it will come.

“We have to move with the ball and be compact. Once we are compact, we have to be aggressive and fight in the duels. Today, we lost some fights and the counter-attacks you allow.

The 53-year-old Dutch tactician added that they were defending well on counter-attacks and showered praise on goalkeeper Andre Onana, who made an impressive debut in the Premier League.

“But luckily we were defending the counter-attacks well and in Andre Onana we had some very good saves.”

Speaking of Mason Mount’s debut, Ten Hag said, “He did his job, it was a moderate game, he did well.”

Manchester United will next take on Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.