Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted his forwards want to be more ruthless. Ten Hag called it “absolutely true” that his rival Liverpool was more clinical than his team on Sunday.
The Red Devils were comfortably beaten 3-0 by the Reds to conclude their pre-season excursion to the United States on a high note. Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas were on the scoresheet for Arne Slot’s team in Columbia, South Carolina.
Despite the scoreline, Ten Hag had a lot of positives to take away from his team’s performance, especially as they enjoyed the percentage of chances but lacked clinical merit in the final third.
United were without a natural No. 9 for the clash with bitter rivals, with Jadon Sancho tasked with leading his team’s line while Rasmus Hojlund is sidelined with injury. Marcus Rashford was the favourite on the left wing than in midfield.
Ten Hag was pleased with his team’s performance when speaking after the match, although he also lamented United’s lack of cruelty. He explained: “Liverpool played well and took their chance. This is the absolute truth.
“We also create smart opportunities, but we don’t take advantage of them. We want to be more clinical and effective. I think at the end of the day, it’s fatigue.
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“We’ve been here for 12 or thirteen days. In the end, it’s a difficult match and maybe you lack freshness and don’t have the strength to be clinical.
“We created a lot of chances and I would be worried if we didn’t have them. I’m happy with the way we create chances in open play, but also thanks to smart urgent conditions and smart counter-urgent conditions.
With Hojlund expected to miss the opening weeks of the 2024/25 season, Ten Hag is hoping Joshua Zirkzee can arrive at Old Trafford.
The Dutch foreigner was signed via Bologna earlier this summer but has yet to join the club, although Ten Hag does not, he is missing duties in the final third.
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He explained: “Joshua Zirkzee, he comes, he has started training, but also he hasn’t been training for long, so it will take time, and he has to adapt to English football and our way of playing as well.
“But of course there’s also Jadon, as a striker. We know that he can play in large areas, but also as a false striker he is an option. I think Marcus has done it before and he can do it, and it’s an option.
“But I think it’s more productive on the left, starting open and coming in. So when you can do this, it’s maximum effective. But we have other options. We have Bruno Fernandes who can also play as a striker.
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