Ten Hag: We have to improve our defending

Manchester United had a mixed night in Portugal this evening, after throwing away a 2-0 lead to rescue a point in added time to draw 3-3.

After two draws, Erik ten Hag’s side are in the play-off positions, two points away from automatic progression to the next round.

The manager reflected on the evening speaking to TNT sports.

“We started the game very good, we dominated, scored two good goals, but then we lost control. So the start was good, the middle part was not good, and then we finished very good. It’s a tough place to go, so coming back from 3-2 we get the equaliser, which is good for the spirit. You see again that the team has a really strong character, but the middle part, the defending, we have to improve.

We must be better on the ball. [We needed to continue] like the first part: keep switching where we had our free players. We had a good plan – in our half-spaces we had our free players. So use them and more goals will come.

We had three clean sheets not so long ago, so we can defend very good. But we have to go back to those habits. Only then can you win games. When you score three times in an away game in Europe, it must be enough.“

Marcus Rashford scored the opener before assisting Rasmus Hojlund to make it 2-0. But was replaced at half-time.

“We have to rotate. Garnacho, we didn’t start him. He had a great game, not only on Sunday, but I think in the whole season. We sub them [the players who went off] because on Sunday we have another hard game, a good game, so we need players to be available and be fit and be fresh. It’s a quick turnaround to Villa. They have a day longer [to recover] and we have an away game, so we want fresh players on the pitch.”

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