Erik ten Hag's post-match interview with beiN Sports after Brentford loss was brutal, even for his standards
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag described the club's abysmal performance against Brentford as "rubbish" before slamming his players in a brutally honest post-match interview.
It will go down as one of the darkest days in United's recent history.
On a warm Saturday afternoon at the Gtech Community Stadium, four first-half goals from Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee and Bryan Mbuemo gifted Thomas Frank's side with a memorable 4-0 win.
"It's a real achievement to spend a billion pounds and be this bad" 💰
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 13, 2022
Brentford's starting XI: £55m
Manchester United's starting XI: £424m pic.twitter.com/SeNGiIohfX
At this very moment, Manchester United sit bottom of the Premier League ladder following their latest humilating defeat.
And after the full-time whistle, a furious Erik ten Hag didn't hold back in his assessment of the display when asked to explain what happened in the first-half.
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"It’s quite clear," he told beIN Sports. "It’s rubbish. It’s poor and we need higher standards than that and it’s clear."
🗣️ "It's rubbish. It's poor. We need higher standards than that, that's clear."
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) August 13, 2022
👀 Erik ten Hag doesn't hold back when assessing @ManUtd's 4-0 defeat to @BrentfordFC. #beINPL #BREMUN #MUFC pic.twitter.com/A05ztejI5m
Ten Hag added: "I can bring up several things but that looks like excuses. And that is not there in the top we have to deliver and we didn’t do.
"We have to change that’s quite clear we have to start better both games we have to stick to the plan and from the first start we have to switch on and that’s what we didn’t do
"You start the game and you make individual mistakes but you make sure one mistake can happen but a second, third mistake is not acceptable. Players must know that.
"Pressure is always there I know that I have to analyse and find solutions, that’s my job."
In his post-match interview, United goalkeeper David De Gea made a worrying admission after being asked how the club can improve on their poor start to the season.
"I'm not sure, to be honest," he admitted.
"Other teams are improving a lot and it looks like we're in the same place. It was a good pre-season but that is not enough.
"We have to show in the Premier League games, they are the games that matter. We need to stick together, work harder than we are working, try to learn as quick as possible what the manager wants and play for the badge, play for the club."
De Gea, who personally requested to take part in media duties on Saturday, also apologised for his role in the defeat.
"I'm just taking my responsibility today," he told Sky Sports. 'I think I cost three points for my team today to be honest. It was a poor performance from myself.
"After the first mistake and second it was tough for the team to keep playing. It was a horrible day. "
🗣️ "I think I cost three points to my team today to be honest"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 13, 2022
David de Gea asked to do the post-match interview after a horrible day for Manchester United 🔴 pic.twitter.com/uYD65ErbQP
Things do not get much easier for Manchester United in the coming weeks. They face Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool at Old Trafford on Monday night before trips to Southampton and Leicester.
Ten Hag's men then host in-form Arsenal on September 4 – a fixture that could prove crucial in their season.
Let us know your thoughts on United's performance on Saturday. How can they improve?
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United, Brentford, Premier League
Jack Kenmare