Manchester United can still reach Champions League knockout phase, insists Erik ten Hag

LONDON – Despite

Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat by Galatasaray

leaving them bottom of Group A in the Champions League, manager Erik ten Hag insisted Manchester United are still in the running for a place in the round of 16.

The Red Devils, who lost 4-3 at Bayern Munich in their opener in September, twice took the lead against the Turkish champions through Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund.

But they were pegged back by goals from Wilfried Zaha and Kerem Akturkoglu, before Mauro Icardi scored the winner.

Bayern, meanwhile, came from a goal down to beat Denmark’s Copenhagen 2-1 at the Parken Stadium.

“Everything is open. There are still four games to go and we have a double (game) with Copenhagen,” ten Hag told TNT Sports, after his side lost for a sixth time in all competitions this season.

“Every game is tough but we know what to do. We know what our demand is, which is to stay in this group and to keep our positions open for going through.”

Before United can think about the last 16, however, they must first work their way out of an early-season crisis, as ten Hag also faced questions over whether he fears losing his job.

Tuesday’s loss means they have lost their opening two games of the Champions League group stage for the first time.

United are also off to their worst start to a Premier League season after losing four of their opening seven matches.

Ten Hag enjoyed a successful first season at Old Trafford, leading the club back into the Champions League by finishing third in the English top flight and ending a five-season trophy drought by lifting the League Cup.

“Last season went brilliant, terrific, more than we could expect,” added the former Ajax Amsterdam boss.

“Also, when we went into this project, we knew there would be gaps. In this moment, we are in a very difficult period as everyone can see, but we (will) come out together.

“We are fighting together, we stick together, we are behind each other. Me, the directors, the team all together we will fight. This is not us. We know we have to do better and in togetherness, we will come out (of this situation).”

Goalkeeper Andre Onana had another night to forget as his difficult start to life at United continued. The Cameroonian, whose handling error led to Bayern’s opening goal two weeks ago, was signed from Inter Milan for £44.1 million (S$73.1 million) primarily for his ability to play the ball out from the back.

But his slack pass straight to Dries Mertens proved the crucial point in the game, as Casemiro dived in to bring the Galatasaray forward down and was shown a second yellow card in the 77th minute.

Icardi fired the resulting penalty wide, but made amends four minutes later by dinking the ball over Onana.

The goalkeeper was part of the Ajax side who reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and helped Inter reach the final of the competition last season, where they lost to treble winners Manchester City.

He has been a shadow of himself this campaign but ten Hag defended him when asked if he should be dropped.

“Andre was in one semi-final of the Champions League and last season, he was in the final of the Champions League, so yes, he has the capabilities to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” the United boss said.

“He’s showed that and he will do. We have already seen in games his great capabilities and personality. When he makes mistakes, he will bounce back.”

Looking forward, ten Hag also said he hoped to harness United’s disappointment ahead of their league game against Brentford on Saturday, when they will look to avoid a third consecutive home defeat in all competitions.

“We have to go again and have energy,” he said.

“The setback we have, has to be the fuel for Saturday.” REUTERS, AFP