Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag conceded that his team “switched off” in a disheartening 2-0 loss to West Ham United on Saturday. Late goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus injected life into an otherwise lackluster game, causing West Ham to surpass United in the Premier League standings.
Despite the defeat, Ten Hag expressed general satisfaction with his team’s overall performance but attributed the loss to a momentary lapse in concentration.
“I believe we had a solid performance,” he stated to TNT Sports. “We controlled the game, maintained solidity, and held possession. We avoided giving away chances in transition. However, we failed to capitalize on our opportunities, and a brief lapse in focus led to conceding the goal.”
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Ten Hag echoed the sentiments of left-back Luke Shaw, acknowledging that a lack of confidence is affecting his forwards, who have now gone four games without scoring. Nevertheless, the manager remains optimistic about his strikers rediscovering their goal-scoring prowess.
“When strikers go through a goal drought, confidence naturally diminishes,” he acknowledged. “They need to believe in themselves. They have proven in the past that they can deliver. Hard work is crucial. As a team, we must improve our final-third passing and encourage each other to be more proactive in the box.”
Acknowledging the challenges posed by injuries and illnesses, Ten Hag admitted that the lack of consistency in team selection, particularly in the center-back position, is taking a toll. Despite this, he commended the performance of Jonny Evans and young Willy Kambwala, emphasizing the importance of establishing defensive routines for better results.
“They played well,” he remarked about the defensive duo. “Certainly, you aim for consistency. Without established routines, you may concede goals like we did. Establishing routines is key to addressing these moments.”