Erik ten Hag bluntly shuts down Rio Ferdinand question in awkward live interview
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said "anyone knows why" his team haven't been able to deliver on his preferred style this season after Rio Ferdinand questioned the Red Devils' start to the campaign.
Ten Hag's team lost five of their first 10 Premier League games, as well as two of their first three in the Champions League. Recent victories have eased the pressure on the manager, though, even if Saturday's win at Fulham wasn't the most convincing.
United finished third in Ten Hag's first season at the helm, but have struggled this term after being hit with an injury crisis in defence. Ten Hag made this exact point to Ferdinand during a live post-match interview on TNT Sports, drawing acceptance from the pundit.
"How long before we can see a team that you say 'This is the way I want to play'?" Ferdinand asked. "Because at the moment, consistently, we're not seeing that yet, and I think you would probably agree with that.
"When will we see a team where you go 'This is the exact style of an Erik ten Hag team," he added. Ten Hag, however, was having none of it.
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"I think, with all the respect, didn't we see it last season?" the United boss asked. Ferdinand conceded that was the case, but pointed out there hadn't been a repeat this term.
"Anyone knows why," Ten Hag continued. "Because we have so many injuries. Every time you have to make changes, the routines are not there."
Are injuries an excuse for Manchester United's form? Have your say in the comments section
Erik ten Hag was left celebrating an important win for Manchester United at Fulham (Mark Greenwood/IPS/REX/Shutterstock)United have, at various points this season, been without Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguilon. Wan-Bissaka was the only member of that group to start at Craven Cottage, but the visitors were able to keep Fulham at bay before Bruno Fernandes delivered a last-gasp winner.
"Everyone knows the situation is not the best, we lost the last two games and it wasn't the performances we wanted to give or the results but today it was a different game," Fernandes told TNT Sports after the win. "We had to give something different and we delivered. We got the three points and that's the most important thing.
"It's about the team and what everyone does on the pitch. Everyone has to sacrifice, run, work harder. Even on the goal, you could see everyone working hard to get the ball and that's what makes the goal."
United are back in action on Wednesday, travelling to FC Copenhagen for an important Champions League game. They beat the Danish champions 1-0 at Old Trafford, with Andre Onana saving a stoppage-time penalty from Jordan Larsson, and will be desperate to pick up more points to make up ground on Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
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