These are your Manchester United evening headlines on Sunday, April 2.
Here are your Manchester United evening headlines on Sunday, April 2.
Ten Hag surprised by United performance in defeat at Newcastle
Erik ten Hag was surprised Manchester United’s players failed to match the intensity of Newcastle in their 2-0 defeat on what he admitted was “not a good day”.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. (Image: 2023 Allstar)
Newcastle had 22 attempts to United’s six in a dominant performance that lifted them above Ten Hag’s team into third place in the Premier League table. United beat Newcastle 2-0 in the League Cup final five weeks ago and Ten Hag felt that was a source of motivation for the hosts and Luke Shaw said Newcastle “wanted it more”.
“I totally agree and that was also my assessment,” Ten Hag said. “They were more determined, more aggression and more desire, in many situations on the pitch and then you can’t win games.
“I was surprised that we couldn’t match the determination and the passion of the opponent. And I think you know before when you travel to St James’ Park and Newcastle what will be going on, especially after we won the cup. So if you want to win big games you have to be mature and I didn’t see that today.”
What happened inside dressing room after Newcastle defeat
Luke Shaw admitted Manchester United’s players had a frank discussion among themselves in the dressing room following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Second half goals from Joe Willock and substitute Callum Wilson secured a fully deserved victory for the home side, who leapfrogged United in the table in the process to climb to up to third, albeit on goal difference. The Magpies were dominant throughout and should have been out of sight by half-time.
United were second best all over the pitch and produced a performance so flat and uninspiring that 2-0 flattered them. They have now lost six of seven matches away from home this season against sides currently camped inside the top half of the table. United would have consolidated their place in the top-four with a victory on Tyneside, but, not for the first time this season, froze when the pressure was on away from home. It meant that a conversation had to be had among the players after the full-time whistle.
Shaw, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “I’m not going to go too much into that [conversation] but the players have had a chat in the changing room after with no staff around. Obviously it is down to us, as players on that pitch, and it was nowhere near good enough.”
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
