Erik ten Hag no magician, but insists Manchester United will come good

MANCHESTER – Erik ten Hag said he is no “Harry Potter” to conjure up quick fixes for Manchester United after a demoralising 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool on Sept 1.

The Dutchman is already under pressure just three games into the new English Premier League season after also

losing 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion

the previous week.

A shock

FA Cup final win over Manchester City in May

helped keep him in his job despite eighth place last season – United’s lowest Premier League finish.

The former Ajax Amsterdam boss was even

handed a contract extension

and backed with a £200 million (S$343.3 million) outlay on new players during the transfer window.

But hope of a new dawn has not lasted at Old Trafford, as Liverpool strolled to victory in Arne Slot’s first major test since replacing Jurgen Klopp.

“It’s not like I’m Harry Potter, that is what you have to acknowledge,” ten Hag said in his post-match press conference, in reference to the young wizard from J.K. Rowling’s fantasy novels.

“We just had a third game in the season, again we have to build a new team.

“We will build this new team, we have young players, also we have now players to build in the season. Today we had two or three players that didn’t start of the season and they didn’t play 90 minutes.

“We will be fine. It’s clear we have to improve, but at the end of the season, I’m quite confident that we will have a big chance to lift another trophy.”

In one of the most glaring hallmarks of United’s struggles last season, Casemiro was the fall guy for Liverpool’s first two goals.

The Brazilian twice lost possession before

Luis Diaz fired home

and the five-time Champions League winner was replaced at half-time by 20-year-old Toby Collyer. Both goals were set up by Mohamed Salah, who later found the net himself.

“I think that in football, everyone has to take responsibility,” added ten Hag on whether he can continue to field Casemiro, given the 32-year-old former Real Madrid player’s decline.

“He’s a great character. He has won everything in his career. I’m sure he will keep contributing to our team.

“Casemiro is always winning, so he will be there.”

Former United captain Roy Keane said on Sky Sports: “Same old problems. Leopards and spots. United are far too open...

“Every time Liverpool went forward, they looked like they were going to score. There were two mistakes from an experienced player (Casemiro) and then another mistake at the start of the second half (from Kobbie Mainoo). It wasn’t good.”

His former teammate Gary Neville added: “The impact of taking Casemiro off will reverberate around the dressing room because he is one of the leaders – a bit like the Harry Maguire situation 1½ years ago when he was hooked.

“It’s been a challenging time for United for the past 10 years. Whether you’re Antony – an £80 million winger, Angel di Maria – an £80m winger, (Jadon) Sancho who has just left (last) week, (Marcus) Rashford – who has come through the ranks who struggled in the second half and the fans are onto him.”

United have not even seriously challenged to win the Premier League in the 11 years since legendary manager Alex Ferguson retired.

Another season fighting for other silverware already appears the best that they can hope for, with a six-point deficit to Liverpool and defending champions City.

“It hurts, especially for our fans,” said ten Hag.

“We have to be humble, we have to give the compliments to Liverpool and we have to move on.”

The fans voiced their discontentment during the match, booing their team after they conceded the third goal. They also jeered when Rashford cut back towards his own goal rather than take on Ibrahima Konate in a one-on-one situation, and also when ten Hag took off Alejandro Garnacho for Amad Diallo.

Said Neville: “Manchester United fans don’t often boo. They don’t often boo the manager, they don’t often boo substitutions, they don’t often boo players individually. And there’s been a couple of times today (where they have).

“They will boo, generally, a performance at half-time when the players are going off if they’re losing 2-0.

“But ordinarily they don’t take out individuals and a couple of times today, they have. Casemiro in the first half and then obviously referring to Rashford with that boo.” AFP