Sports
We’ve to learn, get better,’ Man United coach, Ten Hag says after defeat
Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag stated that his team must learn from the humiliating 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and focus on self-improvement.
A third defeat in United’s first six league games of the new campaign has left the Red Devils down in 11th and time is surely running out for the Dutchman.
“But we definitely have to learn and make things better. We have to get better in the pressing, and better on the ball because there were situations where we could have played better to find the spare man or play over the press to keep the ball and play from there,” Ten Hag said in the post-match interview.
“We didn’t do that and that’s disappointing,” he said.
“I don’t want to talk about progress after such a defeat. We have to deal with this, show resilience, but don’t talk about in this moment today about progress.
“We just focus now on Porto. We will close this game down, deal with it, and then we move on.
Tottenham showed they were the better side as they made a flying start when Brennan Johnson tapped in from Micky Van de Ven’s storming run after three minutes.
Ten Hag speaking on his side’s lacklustre performance in every aspect of the game said, “It’s a bad start to the game. Tottenham were dominant, we couldn’t get the right press and we also made many mistakes in possession.
“But we could have come back into the game and I think the red card changed the game.”
On the first half performance: “It was no good. It’s not possible for a player from the back can dribble through the whole team and then bring a cross in.
“The press was no good in the first half, but we concede some counter-attacks after we countered and we had some bad decision-making. We had a lot of space.”
“We then lost a little bit of confidence and we were also poor in possession. We can do better there and all the players know this.”
When asked about the referee’s decision to award a red card for Bruno Fernades’cynical tackle, the United boss said
“I don’t think it’s a red card.”
United face daunting trips to Porto in the Europa League and Aston Villa on league duty next weekend before a two-week international break that clubs often use to implement managerial change.
The travelling support taunted Ten Hag with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” during the second half.
United’s new football leadership team handed the Dutchman an extension to his contract less than three months ago.
How quickly they backtrack on that decision now appears a matter of time.
The La Liga meeting between Barcelona and Osasuna on Saturday night has been called off at the last-minute.
This comes following the death of medical doctor of Barcelona.
The day’s action in Spain’s top-flight was due to be brought to a close in Catalunya’s capital late this evening.
As much came with table-topping Barcelona looking to extend their advantage over the chasing pack, in a home meeting with Osasuna.
The two squads had been close to finalising their warm-ups, with the respective starting XIs having been made official across social media, too.
As alluded to above, though, Barca and Osasuna will not take to the pitch on Saturday.
As confirmed by La SER, amongst others, this comes following the passing of an unnamed individual:
‘A person close to the FC Barcelona locker room has died and the players asked for the suspension of the match.’
Mohamed Salah scored two penalties as Liverpool came from behind to beat rock-bottom Southampton for the second time this season and moved 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds were miles below their best after their energy-draining late win at Paris Saint Germain on Wednesday – but all that matters at this stage of the season is results.
This takes them one step closer to the title and leaves Saints still in danger of the lowest Premier League points total ever.
The visitors allowed themselves to dream when Will Smallbone took advantage of a huge mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson to slot in from a tight angle.
But Reds boss Arne Slot made a triple substitution at half-time and Liverpool were much improved.
Darwin Nunez, perhaps fortunate not to be one of the ones replaced at the break, slotted in from Luis Diaz’s cutback.
And then the Uruguayan striker was fouled by Smallbone for a penalty, which Mohamed Salah predictably dispatched with style.
Liverpool fans started singing “now you’re going to believe us, we’re going to win the league” after that.
Salah also netted another spot-kick late on, for his 27th goal of the season, after the video assistant referee spotted a Yukinari Sugawara handball.
Second-placed Arsenal have two games in hand – including Sunday’s match with Manchester United – but it is impossible to see anyone overhauling Liverpool.
Nigeria’s U-17 national women football team Flamingoes on Saturday beat host South Africa’s Bantanwa 3-1 to take a giant step in the FIFA Under 17 women world cup qualifiers.
The Nigerian girls stunned their host in the match played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium following goals from Shukurat Moshood and Harmony Chidi who scored a brace, thus taking the upper hand in the two legged affair.
Malebana however scored one goal consolation for the hosting team.
The return leg will now be played in Abuja, Nigeria in a fortnight as the Flamingoes hope to qualify for the final round of the qualifiers in style.
The victory may serve as inspiration to other Nigerian national teams like the Super Eagles and Super Falcons who have been having a tough time dealing with the South Africans, especially away from home.
The Super Eagles will be hoping to replicate such performance when they play Bafana Bafana in the 2026 world cup qualifiers later in the summer.