Erik ten Hag accused some of his players of failing to give 100% and refused to use tiredness as an excuse after Manchester United squandered a commanding position during their 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last night.
United had threatened to increase the pressure on the Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, during a one-sided first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and looked on course to claim a vital win in the race for the top four after taking a 2-0 lead through goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.
Levy, who had responded to last Sunday’s humiliation against Newcastle by handing Cristian Stellini’s caretaker duties over to Ryan Mason, cannot have envisaged a comeback materialising as he listened to the home fans calling for him to resign.
Implausibly Spurs silenced the dissent during the second half, earning a point through goals from Pedro Porro and Son Heung-min. United tired badly and the thought occurred that they had paid for needing extra-time and penalties to win their FA Cup semi-final against Brighton last Sunday. Ten Hag, though, was reluctant to blame fatigue for his side’s collapse.
“We have the worst schedule in the Premier League and that will not change,” United’s manager said. “But we have to take that. It cannot be an excuse. The time is enough to recover. Our players are in demand to be ready. Today we are not ready. Some thought 90% is enough. But we lose focus. That’s why we give goals away. We did not do our jobs in positioning. You lose control of the game. You have to bring it every time.
“I know they are not robots and it is a tough schedule. But when you are playing for Man United and playing away, you have to give [everything] on every occasion and in every game, as a team you have to manage the game. You have to prepare as a player that you are ready for a game, for a battle, for a fight.”
United remain six points above Spurs, who are fifth, and have two games in hand on Mason’s side. However Mason was pleased with his side’s spirit. “I’ve heard a lot about a lack of character but I know I have got men in there that when they pull together as a team are very strong,” he said.
“That is my job – to get inside them and inspire them so every time we go onto the football pitch we act as a team.”
