Erik ten Hag - The African Mirror

Dec

2023

Only bleak reality in Theatre of Dreams as Man Utd hit new low

FAR from being the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford provided a horribly bleak dose of reality for Manchester United fans as they went out of Europe with a whimper. A season in which United have already lost half of their 24 matches in all competitions plumbed new depths as they slumped to a 1-0 loss at home to a Bayern Munich side in third gear. It condemned Erik ten Hag's side to bottom place in their group with just four points -- their lowest total in the Champions League group stage -- while the 15 goals they conceded in six…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Man United boss Ten Hag laments ‘harsh’ Rashford red card

FOOTBALL

MARCUS Rashford's red card that caused a massive momentum shift in Manchester United's 4-3 Champions League loss to FC Copenhagen was "harsh," a shell-shocked Erik ten Hag said as his team's early-season calamity continued. Rasmus Hojlund's brace fired United to a brilliant start but Ten Hag's 10-man side gave up their two-goal lead after Rashford's dismissal in the 42nd minute -- and now United, who have already been eliminated from the League Cup and are a lowly eighth in the Premier League, are on a Champions League knife edge with two group games left to play. "Do you have one…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Premier League talking points

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the 11th round of the Premier League season: MAGUIRE AND FERNANDES ANSWER CRITICS Manchester United's Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes have come in for more than their fair share of criticism this season but both stood up to be counted in a vital 1-0 win at Fulham on Saturday. Maguire, who has been given a first-team reprieve largely because of injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, was a rock at the heart of United's defence, repelling numerous Fulham attacks and showing composure on the ball. Manager Erik Ten Hag described Maguire's display as massive but the…

Nov

2023

By MARTYN HERMAN

Beleaguered Ten Hag needs away-day boost at Fulham

FOOTBALL

SO dire has Manchester United's home form been this season that perhaps the only saving grace as they prepare for the next match of a so-far torrid campaign is that it is away at Fulham. Erik Ten Hag's stumbling United side were booed at halftime and full-time on Wednesday as they surrendered the League Cup with a 3-0 home defeat by Newcastle United. It was their second successive 3-0 home loss and they have lost five of their 10 home games in all competitions. They are not exactly pulling up trees away from home either and fans will not have…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

Man Utd can still reach Champions League knockout phase: Ten Hag

FOOTBALL

MANCHESTER United are still in the running for a place in the Champions League round of 16 despite Tuesday's 3-2 defeat by Galatasaray leaving them bottom of Group A, manager Erik ten Hag said. United, who lost 4-3 at Bayern Munich in their opener last month, twice took the lead against the Turkish champions through Rasmus Hojlund but were pegged back by goals from Wilfried Zaha and Kerem Akturkoglu before Mauro Icardi scored the winner. "Everything is open. There are still four games to go and we have a double (game) with Copenhagen," Ten Hag told TNT Sports after United lost for a sixth…

Oct

2022

By The African Mirror

Ten Hag says Casemiro improving at Man Utd after Chelsea heroics

SPORT

MANCHESTER United boss Erik ten Hag hailed the growing influence of Casemiro in their midfield after the Brazilian international scored in added time of Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Chelsea to salvage a point for his fifth-placed side. Casemiro was signed from Spanish side Real Madrid in August to bring some badly needed aggression and steel to the centre of the pitch for United and the five-times Champions League winner has slowly grown into his role. The 30-year-old headed past Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 94th minute to deny the hosts all three points after Jorginho's late penalty…