Mizgan Masani
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag wants the team to show character again
Ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton and Hove Albion, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has asked his team to show character once again after an underwhelming display against Sevilla.
After picking up some form in the league following that bad defeat to Newcastle United, United messed it up in the Europa League, when they blew a two-goal lead in the first leg of the quarter-final tie against Sevilla at home, before comprehensively losing the second leg in Spain.
Ten Hag’s men have responded to adversity nicely in the past too. After defeats in the opening two games of the season to Brighton and Brentford, they came back and ended the first half of the season on a high.
The boss wants the team to show character for one more time this season. Here’s what the Dutchman said (h/t Manchester United website):
”The team showed character on several occasions this season, so we believe they can do it again. We have to do it again because of course we are not happy [about the Sevilla game], we were really disappointed and frustrated with our performance and level as this is not our standard. We want to act.”
Before the Sevilla defeat on Thursday, there were legitimate calls for United to lift the cup treble this season. Since then though, the scene has changed.
The heavy defeat in Spain may have not only knocked them out of Europe but also shattered some of the confidence ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against an in-form team like Brighton.
Moreover, the juggernaut of Manchester City waits in the final even if the Red Devils get past the Seagulls. Pep Guardiola’s men are aiming to emulate what United did under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999 – winning the actual treble of the league, Champions League and FA Cup.
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Without Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in defence, United will be tested against a strong attacking side like Brighton. The first instruction from ten Hag could be to not take unnecessary risks with the ball in their own box.
