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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

Erik ten Hag mocked on Dutch TV over Manchester United's poor start to season

Erik ten Hag was mocked on TV by Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit after Manchester United's disappointing draw with FC Twente on Wednesday.

United let a 1-0 lead slip in their opening game of the Europa League season as Twente were able to sweep through the team at Old Trafford and allow Sam Lammers to cancel out Christian Eriksen's opener.

It's yet another disappointing night for Ten Hag, who last season oversaw United's worst ever Premier League campaign only to win the FA Cup and be rewarded with a new contract.

The summer break has not improved results, with United so far winning just three of their eight games across all competitions. Ten Hag has often spoken his "process", after over two years in the job, after Diogo Dalot recently expressed frustration at results.

Ruud Gullit poked fun at Erik ten Hag after the game (Manchester United via Getty Imag)

"Of course when you see the scores, no one is happy," Ten Hag said of Dalot's comments. "But also players have a very good sense of the process, of the quality of the process. Yeah, and I agree with him.

"Also, when you analyse the games – all the games – so far, we are in a good direction. But also as normal in a transition period and in a period where you have to build a team, we have to improve. We have to step up."

Speaking on Dutch TV over images of Ten Hag walking off at the final whistle, Gullit said jokingly: "Yeah, but it's a process."

He added: "I am not surprised by the football Manchester United showed tonight. Why not? Because we are used to it by now ... How many millions did Erik ten Hag invest in his team again?"

How many millions did Ten Hag invest in his team again?

Ruud Gullit

Gulllt continued: "I saw Erik ten Hag talking to Garnacho all the time. The only thing a player is thinking during a moment like that is: 'dude, leave me alone.'"

Asked for his view on the performance after the game, Ten Hag pointed to his process again and then blamed his players: "This is football. You have to keep going. Tomorrow there is a new day, and we go again."

He added: “We are very ambitious and when you have ambition you have to perform and prove the point. Today, particularly in the second-half, we were too complacent. We didn't bring it over the line and, as a team, you have to bring this.

"You have to be consistent and keep going. In the second-half we dropped our level and gave the goal away. We can't allow the right-back from Twente to dribble through the whole midfield and not be stopped.

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