Ten Hag blames poor decision-making

Manchester United coach Erik Ten Hag expressed frustration and blamed costly mistakes and poor decision-making for his side conceding two stoppage-time goals against Chelsea to lose 4-3 in the English Premier League.

Ten Hag said his team deserved to win at Stamford Bridge, after rallying from a twogoal deficit with a brace from Alejandro Garnacho and a goal from Bruno Fernandes.

Individual errors, however, led them to defeat just a few days after his team conceded a last-gasp equaliser to Brentford in a 1-1 draw to move further away from a top-four Premier League finish.

Cole Palmer scored twice deep into stoppage time to complete a hat-trick as Chelsea all but ended United’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Boyhood United fan Palmer turned the game on its head, levelling from the penalty spot in the 100th minute and then netting the winner moments later in a frantic end to the game at Stamford Bridge.

“I had the feeling we were dominating the game, got ourselves into a winning position, scoring great goals,” Ten Hag said. “Then, in stoppage time, we didn’t manage to win. Of course it’s frustrating.

“We made individual errors that cost us the game. The players know their jobs and they didn’t make the right decisions. We have to read when to keep the ball, to pass, move and switch the play when we are winning.

“In five days we dropped five points. That is unacceptable. We gave away a game we should have won.”

The Dutch manager said injury absences of key players had dampened his team’s performance, but he was confident his players would step up on Sunday when they host leaders Liverpool.

“[Raphael] Varane, [Jonny] Evans, Also Casemiro we have to take off. You need these types to show leadership and what to do,” he said. “I don’t know if they will play on Sunday.”