On Thursday, Manchester United suffered a thrashing in Seville under Erik Ten Hag’s leadership and was eliminated from the Europa League.
The Dutchman says Manchester United must take a ‘huge step forward’ and ‘do better’ for Sunday’s Emirates FA.
Manchester United still has the opportunity to win two domestic trophies, having won the Carabao Cup earlier in the season. Sevilla’s elimination of Manchester United from the Europa League on Thursday night left Erik Ten Hag enraged at his team.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton at Wembley on Sunday, ten Hag said:
I think we always playing for our future as professional players. Every game is a test, every season is a test, you have to earn the right to wear the shirt. It’s [the same] for me as a manager. We are in the same boat. During the season we make huge progress. We have the experience but we have a way to go.
Erik admits that the performance was not good enough and that his side needs to show greater character and composure. These improvements are essential if they are to have a successful end to the season.
A good thing is Sunday is a huge opportunity, semi-final of the FA Cup, a better event you can’t imagine, after that a lot of great games to go, we have to prove it and this group of players has to prove it. We have to do better, I know that, I have to reach the players to do better in such circumstances. We deal better with such expectations, the demands on this team, we are Manchester United, they are high, we have to improve it, I have to reach the players and they have to step up.
While still in his first season at Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag will have more time during the summer to build a formidable team that can compete in the Premier League.
