Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United were ‘beaten’ by Crystal Palace but insists he is the right manager | Football news

Erik ten Hag has admitted Manchester United were “beaten” by Crystal Palace but believes he is still the right manager to take the club forward.

Michael Olise scored twice along with goals from Tyrick Mitchell and Jean-Philippe Mateta on Monday night to throw United’s season into the deep end and leave them eighth in the Premier League with minus goal difference three.

United have conceded 81 goals in all competitions this season, their most in a single campaign since 1976-77, with their makeshift defense in tatters at Selhurst Park as Casemiro was exposed at centre-back.

Sunday, May 12, 3:30 p.m

It starts at 16:30

Olise had too much space in midfield for Palace’s first goal, which came from a throw-in, with Ten Hag revealing the players failed to carry out his instructions.

“It’s a goal that shouldn’t happen because we’re really giving clear instructions on how we’re supposed to defend this,” he said. Sky Sports. “They didn’t bring him on the field. We hit each other with the hammer.

“It was a problem, but also on the left side, there were two players doubling on one player. It’s a very poor defense.”

Casemiro missed Olise’s tackle in the build-up to the opener, although Ten Hag insisted the team were at fault.

“You can’t put this down to one player. It’s a team performance,” he said. “The throw-in when you get the first goal, that shouldn’t happen.

“This is the team because we don’t follow the rules, we don’t adapt to a slightly different situation, to organize, to keep control in that situation. Five players over the ball and they have a throw from the edge, it’s not possible. .

“It’s clear, it’s obvious, it’s underperforming. We didn’t perform as we wanted and it’s not good enough. We’re very disappointed. Our fans were behind us and we should have kept fighting as the fans did.

“There are always reasons, everyone sees our backline – we have huge problems. At the end of the day, we have to manage and we should have done better.”

Ten Hag was confident he would stay at the club beyond the summer despite uncertainty over his position as INEOS make sweeping changes to the football structure – and he remained unfazed by this latest defeat.

“Absolutely,” he said when asked by Sky Sports if he was the right person for the job. “If the right players are available, we have a good team. We’re missing almost all of the background line and that’s when we’re in trouble.

“I will continue to fight. I prepared the team in the best way I could. It was not good enough, I have to take responsibility for that, but I will find energy and prepare them for Sunday’s game. “

Carragher: Man Utd one of the best trained teams in the PL

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football:

“This is one of the worst-coached teams in the Premier League. That’s a fact. That’s not an opinion. That’s a fact. The numbers tell you that when you see them at the bottom of the league defensively, lower than Sheffield United.

“I struggled to see how United would win tonight but I thought Palace would win one or two, nil. No Manchester United team should be beaten 4-0 by Crystal Palace.

“Manchester United’s U23s, if they’re at Manchester United, they’ve been through their academy, they’ve been trained and taught how to play, I still wouldn’t expect them to lose 4-0.

“I’ve never been a manager or a coach, but I’ve been a player and I’ve been coached by top coaches and some of the things I see are just wrong.”

Man Utd’s remaining games

May 12: Arsenal (H) – Premier League, kick-off at 16.30, live Sky Sports

May 15: Newcastle (H) – Premier League, kick-off at 20:00, live Sky Sports

May 19: Brighton (A) – Premier League, start at 16.00

May 25: Man City (N) – The FA Cup final, start at 15.00

Ad content | Stream Sky Sports on NOW

Stream Sky Sports live with no contract for a month or day membership NOW. Instant access to live action from the Premier League, EFL, F1, England Cricket and more.

How to book Fury v Usyk on Sky Sports Box Office

It is one of the biggest sporting events in a generation. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk clash for the undisputed world heavyweight championship on Saturday 18 May, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book the fight now.