“I feel sorry for you” – Ten Hag’s awkward confrontation with journalist after Man Utd’s horrific defeat to Liverpool

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag had a slightly awkward exchange with a journalist during his post-match press conference yesterday, after watching his team be beaten 3-0 at home by rivals Liverpool.

Two first-half goals from Luis Diaz and a second-half goal from Mohamed Salah gave Arne Slot’s side an impressive one-sided victory at Old Trafford, which will undoubtedly lead to more major question marks over Ten Hag’s performance as Man Utd manager.

The Dutch tactician is in his third season as manager of the Red Devils and it seems that he has not made much progress with the team yet, despite the fact that a lot was invested in changes to the playing group and part of his coaching staff this summer.

When asked after yesterday’s game about his performance as a manager, Ten Hag seemed unable to say anything of substance. He only said that he felt bad that the journalist had questioned him and pointed out all the things his players are bad at.

Ten Hag questioned about Man Utd performance

“What do you mean? Maybe you can explain to me the mistakes we make regularly,” Ten Hag said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.

The journalist replied: “Constantly losing the ball in your own half, playing the ball from the back, being robbed, getting chances after the game, countering when you are outnumbered, giving away endless chances in your own stadium against your biggest rivals. With all due respect, Erik, we have seen that for so long.”

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“I don’t think you wouldn’t win trophies like we did against big opponents otherwise. So I feel sorry for you, I have a different vision,” Ten Hag replied. “I think we’ve won the most trophies in English football after City, so I feel sorry for you.”

United fans will not be convinced by this when their manager says this. He has clearly failed to live up to expectations and has not succeeded in destroying his philosophy in the same way that Slot did, albeit in a much shorter time at Liverpool.