Erik ten Hag believes Manchester United only have themselves to blame following their 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
The Red Devils saw a nine-game unbeaten run come to an end at the expense of Unai Emery’s managerial debut for the Villans, being outplayed in both halves of the game as Villa beat them in the Premier League for the first time since 1995.
United found themselves 2-0 down in the opening stages and only pulled one back on the cusp of half-time thanks to a Jacob Ramsey own-goal. But it was the young Englishman who added a third for Villa swiftly after the break, putting the game to bed.
“We lose the game start of the first half and second half, that is unacceptable,” Ten Hag told reporters. “They looked more fresh, more ready.
“After a long time (being undefeated against Villa) this has happened, I said it was up to us. We didn’t keep the ball, we didn’t get the right organisation, didn’t follow the rules and lost battles.”
He added, holding nothing back: “The result is clear, it never lies. In football you always get your own earnings. Today we were not good enough.
“Our players have experience, you have to read the game, get the right organisation and not concede two goals. That was totally unnecessary. You have to be compact and stand on the ball.”
The Dutch coach conceded that it was a ‘disappointing’ display from a United side he had rotated significantly, with Bruno Fernandes suspended and Raphael Varane out injured.
Focus now turns to the midweek, where they have the chance to avenge the defeat against Villa when they play them again in the Carabao Cup.
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