Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, acknowledges accountability for his team’s recurring issue of relinquishing leads in the Champions League. Despite holding a two-goal advantage over Galatasaray on two occasions in Istanbul, United settled for a 3-3 draw on Wednesday.
With United now at the bottom of Group A before the evening’s late kick-offs, their chance of progressing to the last 16 of the competition is no longer within their control.
Asked who was to blame, Ten Hag told TNT Sports: “It’s always me.”
In this Champions League campaign, Manchester United has squandered a lead in five group games, finding themselves ahead by two goals in two of those instances.
“I am responsible for this,” added Ten Hag. “We know we are in a project. We are making improvements, so that’s very hopeful.
“We are going in the right direction so I know we will be successful in the long-term, but if you want to stay in the Champions League you need to win these games.
“We were winning and then we’re losing it. We should have taken three points, that’s clear. We did this in other games. I was pleased with how we played but at the same time I have to criticise the team because the defending is not good enough.
“We are leading 3-1 and we cannot afford mistakes as it makes a difference.”
United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, committed critical errors, offering Galatasaray opportunities and consequently leaving United at the bottom of the group standings ahead of their final clash with Bayern Munich.
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The stakes are high for Manchester United; if FC Copenhagen secures a victory against Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening, United’s journey in the competition comes to an end. In the scenario of a draw, United would need to triumph over Bayern and also rely on a draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray next month to keep their hopes alive.
Man United captain Bruno Fernandes told TNT Sports.
“We have to understand in these types of games and stages we have to be smart enough and manage the game better,”
“Everyone has to step up and take responsibility of their own mistakes. Now we don’t depend on ourselves but it is what it is.
“We were on top of the game twice and we had far too many chances to have the game closed. We were not clinical enough.
“What we have been doing in the Champions League is not enough. It is not the first game we’ve had like this. We have to secure the result.”
