Erik ten Hag was furious with five Manchester United players as he slammed their defending from a throw-in that led to Crystal Palace’s opener on Monday night.
The Red Devils were delivered a brutal 4-0 defeat at Selhurst Park, the latest sting to what has been a frustrating season.
United’s manager was critical of his team’s performance insisting his players ‘let each other down’ though vowed to keep fighting amid pressure over his future.
He was particularly unhappy with the nature of how they conceded their first goal, after Palace waltzed through United’s defence after a throw-in before Michael Olise put the ball in the back of the net.
Ten Hag said after the game: ‘Professionals shouldn’t allow this. It was such an easy giveaway goal.
Erik ten Hag has hit out at five Manchester United players for their part in Crystal Palace’s opener in a 4-0 victory for the Eagles at Selhurst Park on Monday night
Jamie Carragher highlighted those above circled who Ten Hag was talking about (left to right: Alejandro Garnacho, Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen, Aaron-Wan Bissaka and Kobbie Mainoo
Palace waltzed through United’s defence from the throw-in with Michael Olise scoring
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‘Five players over the ball when they have a throw-in and it’s not the first time this season.
‘I know we have young players, but even young players should learn when they play in the first-team they should take responsibility.’
Ten Hag didn’t name the players he was tearing into, though Jamie Carragher’s analysis on Sky Sports after the game referenced who he believed the Dutchman was talking about.
The players Carragher highlighted were Kobbie Mainoo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Christian Eriksen, Alejandro Garnacho and Mason Mount.
Carragher said he would ‘argue night and day with Erik ten Hag’ that Eriksen’s position at the throw-in is wrong, as the veteran Danish midfielder marked an opposing player where the ball wouldn’t go.
He then added: ‘What is Wan-Bissaka doing there, just doing nothing. He could easily go in there (in front of Jean-Phillipe Mateta) and Mainoo can go there (in front of Olise).
‘But again, leadership, organisation, no one taking responsibility. Eriksen gets thrown to the floor, Casemiro was just a joke, how does he run that far with no one getting near him (Olise).’
Ashley Young who was a guest pundit on Monday Night Football added: ‘You’re expecting to have a set-up. You’re expecting them to communicate.
Carragher also insisted that veteran defenders Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jonny Evans should have told young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to move more centrally towards Olise
Olise waltzed through United’s defence with Mainoo unable to stop him from scoring
‘If Crystal Palace throw the ball backwards then you can get up the pitch, they won’t harm you.
‘But when you vacate this big space, it’s just crazy to leave that much space, where they want to throw it into and no one is marking and no one is talking.’
The young player mentioned by Ten Hag in his interview appeared to be Mainoo, who has impressed this season after breaking into the first-team.
Carragher said: ‘He thinks he’s doing a good job, he’s trying to protect. You’ve got Wan-Bissaka and Jonny Evans, two experienced players and they have got to be telling him to move.’
United’s defending didn’t get much better as Olise got a second goal, with Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell also scoring in a dominant win for the Eagles.
Ten Hag’s side face Arsenal, Newcastle and Brighton in their final three league games, before facing Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup.
