Ten Hag blasts Man United stars after dropping points against Crystal Palace
- Think Football Ideas
- Jan 19, 2023
- 2 min read
Crystal Palace's Michael Olise scored a last-minute free-kick to deny Man United a victory on the road.
Erik ten Hag has bemoaned how Manchester United dropped two points at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night, saying we should 'have invested more to get that second goal and then not be in that situation.'
The Dutchman’s Red Devils were on course to secure a 10th win on the trot after Bruno Fernandes found the net with a brilliant effort before the break, but Michael Olise stepped up and put in a curling free kick to level the score two minutes before the final whistle.
The draw moved United above Newcastle into the third position, level on points with second-placed Manchester City, who play Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.
'I have to criticise my team'
Ten Hag told BBC Sport after the match in south London: "We dropped two points. When you’re winning with two minutes to go.
"You [Palace] don’t create anything except one which was a corner and this one was a free-kick from far. You don’t expect to drop points. We have to invest more to get that second goal and then not be in that situation where a lucky moment costs you two points.
"We were 1-0 up. In the second half, we had a lot of space to kill them and go for the second. I never saw we really went for the second goal.
"It’s difficult to say [why]. I have to criticise my team. Go for the second. Bruno and Rashy on the wings, Garnacho, a lot of creativity, speed and power, and McTominay with penetration behind.
"From my perspective [they should have had a penalty] but VAR and the referee make the decision. We have to accept it."
On Casemiro's yellow card and suspension, he replied: "He's a really important player for us and a reason we're in this position. But last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro. We need to do it again.
"We’re winning, controlling the game and an unlucky moment. We don’t have time to react. We have to take that and move on and make the best plan for Arsenal."
'We should have closed the game'
United captain Bruno Fernandes told Sky Sports they are not happy with leaving London with only a point.
The Portuguese said: "We knew it's tough to play here. We could have lost the game. We're not happy with a draw. We should have taken our chances and closed the game. They scored a great goal in the end. Nothing we can do now.
"We have to look forward now. Other games are coming. We're still doing good things.
"We're really disappointed with the result but the next one is close. We have to prepare the game. Not too much time to recover."
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