Ten Hag's strong-worded warning fails to inspire reaction from Man Utd flops
Erik ten Hag said he and his Manchester United players cannot "hide behind excuses" before their clash with Galatasaray - but they failed to bounce back and were humiliated in the Champions League again.
United have lost four of their first seven Premier League games and were also defeated in their Champions League group stage opener at Bayern Munich. Ten Hag's side faced Galatasaray at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, with the United boss acknowledging the start to the season has not been good enough ahead of the game.
But despite issuing a rallying call to his players in the build-up to their European showdown, United's players showed signs of a hangover from their league defeat by Crystal Palace with another miserable performance. The struggling Red Devils lost 3-2 to pile the pressure on Ten Hag, despite leading the game twice.
Rasmus Hojlund gave them a much-needed lead but former Red Devils winger Wilfried Zaha fired home a first-half equaliser. Hojlund regained the lead with a fine solo goal before Kerem Akturkoglu and Mauro Icardi secured a stunning comeback win - and the result gives Ten Hag more food for thought as he attempts to solve United's current crisis.
Hojlund regained the lead with a fine solo goal before Kerem Akturkoglu and Mauro Icardi secured a stunning comeback win - and the result gives Ten Hag more food for thought as he attempts to solve United's current crisis.
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In his programme notes before the game, Ten Hag wrote: "Our start to the current season has not been good enough and, although there are reasons for this, we will not attempt to hide behind excuses. It is up to us now to turn our fortunes around, because we are the ones who control how we perform. What happens next is up to us and no-one else.
"We lacked quality in our attacking play during Saturday's defeat to Crystal Palace, and while we conceded very few chances during the course of the game, they took one of theirs and got the victory as a result. Our decision-making over the rest of the game was not good enough to allow us to recover and that is another reminder of how you can be punished at any moment in the Premier League if you're not at your best.
Erik ten Hag saw his Manchester United side disappoint again in the Champions League (Getty Images)"There were some positives in our display at Bayern Munich on matchday one, but we left Germany without a point, so it's important we get back on track in the group.
"We can't change the bad results we've had. We can only control what happens in our future. We worked hard last season over the course of 38 Premier League games to get ourselves into this competition and we must make the most of this opportunity now that we're here.
"The top clubs and top players have to be involved in the Champions League - these are occasions to be enjoyed and savoured, so we must think positively, play proactively and demonstrate the quality that we know we have in our squad. When you have a run of results that are not up to the required standard, everyone has to pull together and fight for each other.
"In the last year we have had some unforgettable occasions together when we have generated great atmospheres here [at Old Trafford], so we know from experience that the players can be inspired by these occasions and show their true capabilities."
Despite touching on "unforgettable occasions", it seems United are unlikely to experience much success this season unless Ten Hag can solve the ongoing crisis. The Dutchman is clearly passionate about the task in hand - but his words aren't currently having the desired impact on his players.
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