Erik ten Hag has admitted Manchester United have a real problem when it comes to scoring goals.
The Red Devils saw a disappointing start to their European campaign after failing to claim victory over Eredivisie side Twente on Wednesday night.
While they were ultimately the stronger team throughout, United struggled to capitalise on chances in front of goal.
This season, no team has missed more big chances in the Premier League than United’s 17 – Aston Villa, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are all tied for second with 12 misses – and Ten Hag admitted his side’s shortcomings in attack are becoming a real problem.
“We really have difficulty scoring, that needs to improve,” he told Ziggo Sport. “We create a lot of chances, but we have difficulty scoring.
“If you lose at the top, you always have a problem, no matter which coach. The board knows that we are in a process and that we are building. It is much calmer now. If we are a few months further, I think we can really build a nice team.”
Contributing to the pressure on Ten Hag’s shoulders has been criticism from a number of United‘s former players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, but the Dutchman insists he is not worried about the comments.
“I’m used to that,” he said. “That was the case at Ajax and it’s the case here. These are clubs that are always in the spotlight. Everyone has an opinion about it. You have to deal with that and not let it distract you: just keep working stoically.”
United are set to return to action on Sunday when they host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. Their next Europa League clash will follow on Thursday against Porto.
What we know
- Ten Hag identifies Man Utd’s issues in front of goal
- Dutchman believes team struggle to finish chances to score
- Red Devils drew 1-1 to FC Twente on Wednesday.