Club insiders pinpoint Erik ten Hag’s two ‘biggest issues’ at Manchester United

Two former Manchester United employees have detailed Erik ten Hag’s two biggest problems following an underwhelming draw against FC Twente in the Europa League.

In their opening Europa League fixture of the season, Manchester United, managed by Erik ten Hag, drew 1-1 with FC Twente, the club he supported as a boy.

Christian Eriksen initially put United ahead with a brilliant goal in the first half, but a lapse in focus allowed FC Twente to level the score with 20 minutes left.

Read More: Erik ten Hag’s big mistake vs Crystal Palace was repeated vs FC Twente, it cost Man United the win

Although ten Hag brought on Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Højlund to turn the tide, United couldn’t break through the Dutch side’s defence, ending the match in an unsatisfactory draw.

Ahead of the tie, former United assistant manager Steve McClaren, who left United earlier this year, explained that he still feels Ten Hag needs further time to get it right at Old Trafford and was full of praise for his former boss.

“I thought I knew about football before,” he told TNT Sports. “I learned so much.

“Coming back here again the last two years I have learned so much again about modern football. Tactically very, very good. Very good in discipline. He’s building this team, it takes time. He did that at Ajax and he needs time to do it here.”

However, McClaren also explained that with United suffering from goalscoring problems, Ten Hag has a problem if he cannot get his wingers and midfielders to contribute to goals.

“I think at Manchester United now, the wingers need to contribute; the midfielders need to contribute,” he explained.

Former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves agreed with McClaren’s assessment, further explaining that, on top of the goal-scoring struggles, United’s second issue is that they are yet to beat any significant side, which gives any opposition confidence against the Red Devils.

“That’s the biggest issue so far this season – they haven’t really beaten anybody,” he explained after full-time. “There was the Liverpool game. Against Crystal Palace, they probably should’ve won. The first half was exceptional, but then in the end, if it wasn’t for an [Andre] Onana double save, they could have lost that as well.

“They need to find a way to get results. The squad is stronger, there is more positivity around the team. But this will be a bit of a blow because the season has gone a bit like this – they had control of the game but couldn’t finish it off.

“I think that allows a team like Twente to grow in confidence, be positive, and in the end they leave Old Trafford with a point. They pushed, they went for it and got what they deserved.”

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