Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 11:06 PM• Jonathan van Haaster • Last update: 23:19

Erik ten Hag is critical of his team after the unprecedented 4-0 earwash at Brentford. Manchester United fell mercilessly hard after David de Gea’s blunder on the opening goal. Ten Hag says to Sky Sports that he could have changed his entire starting team. “The team has to take responsibility.”

“I asked the team to play with faith and responsibility and they have not done that,” says Ten Hag. “I’m sorry for the fans. Only if we keep working together will we get over this. The trainer is responsible and I accept that.” The ex-coach of Ajax says that the heat played a role in the poor performance of his team. “Of course that’s a factor, but you have to deal with that. Both teams have the same problem, so we have to deal with that. It’s a matter of mentality.” Asked whether Ten Hag wants to see new purchases, he answers in the affirmative. “Yes, we need new quality players. We will try to convince them to strengthen us.”

Opposite beIN Sports Ten Hag was also clear. “It was rubbish. We must have a higher standard. There are several reasons why it didn’t work out, but that would be an apology and that is not part of a top club. We need to start playing better, that’s for sure. We have to stick to the plan as a team. We have to be ready from the first moment, and we didn’t. You start a match, but then you have to deal with individual errors. We had several of those and that is unacceptable. The pressure is always there, and it’s up to me to analyze the game and improve the team.”

Ten Hag has a negative record with the second loss in a row, as De Tukker is now the first Man United coach in more than 100 years to lose his first two league matches. In the next round of play, Old Trafford awaits the squatter against arch-rival Liverpool. In the first round, Man United also lost against Brighton & Hove Albion (1-2).