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Manchester United were poor once again as they drew 2-2 with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The result means that the Red Devils have only won one of their last seven Premier League games.
For large parts of the game, United were second best to a much more threatening Cherries side who had 20 shots to the visitor’s eight.
However, two goals from captain, Bruno Fernandes, secured a draw for the Old Trafford side.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Erik ten Hag claimed, “we know we have to win. We want to battle, to compete for the top positions. You see the game, we struggled first half, [Harry] Maguire was struggling but he overcame because we needed him to”.
The former Ajax coach was much more positive about his side’s second half display and credited them for their response.
“The second half was much better, the good thing is we fought back twice from a losing position. The team spirit is good”.
“By the end it could’ve been more composed and calm and we could’ve played more chances out. The opponent was struggling because they gave so much energy in the first half and there were so many gaps but we didn’t benefit from it.”
The United manager naturally lavished praise on his captain, who rescued the Red Devils with his brace and was inches away from a hat-trick when his dipping shot in first half stoppage time clipped the top of the crossbar.
“Scoring twice, very creative, it’s true he gives a lot of energy to the team. He is acting as a captain, bringing the energy and we are very pleased with this. We are all disappointed but he expresses that feeling. We have to win our games and we have dropped too many unnecessary points in the last few games”.
Ten Hag finally defended VAR’s decision to overturn a late penalty for the home side.
“It was not a penalty, definitely not. We conceded – in the last four games – three penalties, and all of them were debatable. The one we won today was also debatable”.
The Red Devils must pick themselves up from another disappointing result and performance when they take on Coventry City next Sunday in the FA Cup semi-final.
With Champions League football next season almost certainly out of reach, failure to get through to Wembley’s showpiece final could spell the end of the Dutchman’s time at the club.
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