Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag issued a strict response to his players after their embarrassing defeat to Brentford by cancelling their day off.
United found themselves 4-0 down against Thomas Frank’s side after just 35 minutes in Saturday’s defeat and failed to mount any sort of comeback in the second half in West London.
The Red Devils were due to have Sunday off, but Ten Hag, angered by what he watched, called the United players into Carrington for extra training following their poor start in the Premier League, which has left them bottom of the table.
Erik ten Hag Cancels Manchester United Day Off and Calls Players in for Extra Training
Erik ten Hag wanted to make Manchester United players run 13.8 kilometres (8.5 miles) during their exercises in their extra training session today. Brentford players ran 13.8 kilometres more than them yesterday. Distance covered yesterday: Brentford 109.4km United 95.6km.
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) August 14, 2022
United ‘Need Higher Standards’
Going into the game, United were already reeling after their opening day defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion – the first time the Seagulls had ever won at Old Trafford.
United were poor on that day and offered no improvement against Brentford, who finished third in League One in the last season the Red Devils won the Premier League.
They were 4-0 down after 35 minutes, with the first two goals going down as errors from goalkeeper David de Gea – first allowing Josh Dasilva’s weak effort to roll underneath him and then playing an awful ball out to Christian Eriksen, who was tackled by Mathias Jensen before rolling in.
Read More: Manchester United Make David de Gea Decision After Brentford Blunders
Ben Mee and Bryan Mbuemo added the third and fourth to send both sets of fans into shock – although for far different reasons.
Just after his first two Premier League games, Erik ten Hag has moved from "Man Utd have good players we can develop" to "we need new quality players".
Welcome to reality, my manager! pic.twitter.com/p8GHHVXEt2
— UF (@UtdFaithfuls) August 13, 2022
The defeat left new boss Ten Hag furious, saying that the team need to take responsibility.
“It’s rubbish, and it’s poor. We need higher standards than that, that’s clear,” he said in his post-game press conference.
“We have to deliver and we didn’t. We have to change, that’s quite clear.
“35 minutes you concede four goals. It is not possible. The team has to take responsibility. I feel really sorry for the fans. We let them down.
“You have to take responsibility on the pitch. As a team and as individuals, that’s what we didn’t do.
“What I asked them to do is play with belief and play with responsibility for their performance. That is what we didn’t do.”
Fixtures Not Getting Easier
In years gone by, an opening two fixtures of Brighton and Brentford would have seen United claim six points with no issues.
Now, though, this disconnected, poorly-assembled side are there to be beaten by any team in the league and are no longer feared like they have been in the past.
Read More: Manchester United Agree Fee for Transfer Priority
United find themselves bottom of the league and face Liverpool at Old Trafford in their next game.
'The Glazer family do not put money in!' 💰
Gary Neville on the current ownership of Manchester United 👇pic.twitter.com/IDwvTQ4VO1
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 13, 2022
Jurgen Klopp’s side were disappointing in their opening day draw at Fulham but still managed to claw their way back into the game.
They don’t play again until Monday when they host Crystal Palace, but even this early in the season, they should travel to Old Trafford next week with the confidence that they could repeat their 5-0 rout from last season.
