Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has expressed his belief that his side still has a great chance to lift a trophy this season, despite suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Following the chastening loss, Ten Hag emphasized that he is “not Harry Potter,” suggesting that he does not possess magical abilities to instantly transform the team’s fortunes.
The match began with a moment of relief for United when Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold had an early goal disallowed for offside. However, the visitors soon took control, with Luis Diaz scoring twice in quick succession before halftime, capitalizing on defensive errors from United’s Casemiro.
Mohamed Salah added a third goal shortly after the restart, sealing a comprehensive victory for Liverpool.
Despite the disappointing result, Ten Hag highlighted the need to remain positive and build on the team’s potential.
“It is not like I am Harry Potter. You have to acknowledge that,” he stated. “For three players, it was their first start of the season. Manuel Ugarte did not play one minute—he needs to build his fitness. Then we have to build him into the team. I am sure he will contribute to our team. It will take a couple of weeks, maybe even a month.”
The defeat leaves United sitting 14th in the Premier League table, with just three points from their opening three matches. Ten Hag’s starting lineup included six of his signings, but the performance raised questions about the team’s cohesion and effectiveness.
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Reflecting on the match, Ten Hag acknowledged Liverpool’s superiority but also pointed out that United’s performance was not as poor as it might seem.
Erik ten Hag satisfied with performance
“Well done, Liverpool. We have to be humble and accept it,” he conceded. “I don’t think it’s fair to say it feels the same as last year. You can see from the expected goals [xG] that we didn’t concede as many. I don’t think we’re falling into the same patterns.”
As the international break approaches, Ten Hag will be under pressure to address the issues that have plagued United in recent seasons, particularly in midfield and defense.
With the transfer window now closed, the focus will shift to improving performances on the pitch as the team aims to turn its fortunes around and compete for silverware this season.
