Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag came out swinging in his post-match press conference, following a dismal 0-3 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool.
When questioned about his coaching being the root of the problem, ten Hag fired back, “Coaching is the problem? Are you sure? I don’t think so… or you would not win trophies like we did twice.”
The Dutchman was quick to remind critics of his team’s recent successes, saying, “I’m sorry for you. After Manchester City, we won the most trophies… against big teams. I’m sorry for you.” This statement was a clear reference to United’s Carabao Cup and FA Cup triumphs under his tenure.
When asked about the absence of midfielder Ugarte, ten Hag quipped, “I’m not Harry Potter! He hasn’t played, needs to build his fitness, can take weeks… months,” highlighting the manager’s frustration with unrealistic expectations.
Ten Hag also leaped to the defense of Casemiro, saying, “He has shown often that he’s great character. He will show that again, so for sure will bounce back.” This vote of confidence comes after the Brazilian’s disappointing performance against Liverpool.
The United boss also rejected comparisons to last season’s struggles, stating, “I don’t think it’s right to say it feels the same as last year.” He pointed to improved defensive statistics, saying, “You can see the xG, we didn’t concede as many goals… it’s not the same as last year. But well done to Liverpool.”
In a final show of defiance, ten Hag declared, “In the two years, we took two trophies. At the end of the season, you’ll see, for sure, we’ll go for trophies.”
