Erik ten Hag said Manchester United have to learn how to be more ruthless after missing out on the opportunity to move ahead of Manchester City in the Premier League table and to within six points of the leaders, Arsenal.
A brilliant free-kick from Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise in the final minute of normal time cancelled out Bruno Fernandes’ goal for United and denied Ten Hag a 10th straight victory in all competitions. The 1-1 draw leaves them in third, trailing Arsenal by eight points having played a game more going into the meeting with Mikel Arteta’s side on Sunday.
The United manager, who will be without Brazil midfielder Casemiro at Arsenal after he received an automatic suspension for picking up a fifth yellow card, acknowledged his side had missed a chance to pile pressure on the leaders as their winning run was brought to an end.
“It was disappointing and we conceded a goal at the key moment,” said Ten Hag. “We had to go for the second goal. At 2-0 it would be over. We thought we were in control of the game but in football one moment can change everything and that’s something we have to learn from.”
Casemiro’s booking late on was another blow for Ten Hag, whose side inflicted Arsenal’s only league defeat this season at Old Trafford in September. But while the manager said United would miss the Brazil midfielder’s quality against Arsenal, he remains confident that they can cause Arteta’s side problems once more.
“He’s a really important player for us and he is one of the reasons we are in the position we are in now,” said Ten Hag. “But we have a squad and we have to fill that gap by making a proper plan. We have already shown how to beat Arsenal.”
Patrick Vieira was full of praise for his side after they avoided a fourth successive home defeat thanks to Olise’s late intervention. “It was important not to lose again,” the Palace manager said. “We stayed in the game for as long as possible and we were rewarded. Michael is improving all the time and showing his fantastic ability.”
