- Manchester United suffered a 1-0 defeat in their first pre-season game
- Erik ten Hag was unable to count on several players due to international commitments
- Listen to It’s all just beginning! EUROS DIARY: Will Gareth Southgate continue at the World Cup?
Erik ten Hag has been furious with his Manchester United players following their pre-season defeat to Rosenborg, warning his young stars that they were nowhere near meeting the standards he demands.
United lost 1-0 on what was virtually the last shot of the match in what was a deserved defeat for a very young United team in Norway.
While many of the first-team regulars remain on holiday following their Euro 2024 campaign, there were still departures for Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford and Casemiro, but this was a performance from the team that irked the manager.
“The result is not secondary and of course we play pre-season, but at Manchester United there is a standard: win games, definitely don’t lose games,” he said. MUTV.
“If you can’t win games, you shouldn’t lose like we did at the end, in the last second of the game. Of course, performance is more important and the performance was below par.”
Erik ten Hag was not very impressed with Manchester United in their defeat against Rosenborg
Casemiro (left) and Mason Mount (right) had a chance in the first half in Norway
Pressed on his standards and how far this young group was going in the end, Ten Hag didn’t mince his words.
“We can talk about all the good and bad things, but I’m not that guy,” he added.
“This is not the standard for elite football. In elite football you have to reach much higher standards and that starts with making sure every individual is fit.
“I know you can’t be fit right now and you need these games. I know we’re playing against an opponent in your league who has a much higher physical level, but still…
“We are Manchester United and Manchester United players, a Manchester United team, should perform much better.”
More of United’s first-team regulars got minutes in the first half, with Casemiro suffering a heavy foul that many felt should have been given a red card.
Mount was deployed in a deeper role alongside the Brazilian, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka started at right-back and Marcus Rashford started on the left wing.
But United, in their first pre-season game, looked lacking in fitness and ideas.
Hannibal Mejbri (right) returns to the team after a difficult loan period in Spain with Sevilla
Marcus Rashford did not go to the Euros with England and was in the first half
Young goalkeeper Radek Vitek made several impressive saves, although Ten Hag felt his teammates did not offer much resistance.
“The team gave him the opportunity to make some very good saves because our performance as a team was not good enough,” said the Dutchman.
New managers Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake were in the dugout alongside Ten Hag and the United boss was asked about what Van Nistelrooy, who was seen in deep discussions with some players in Norway, can bring.
“He is a very ambitious coach, has great coaching skills and will help the team,” Ten Hag said.
“It will help individual players, but it will definitely help the team as the whole team works both in attack and in pressing.”
United return to action in Scotland on Saturday when they take on Rangers before their pre-season tour of the United States.
