Ten Hag Concedes Man Utd's Premier League Performance 'Not Good Enough'

Erik ten Hag admitted that Manchester United's season fell short of expectations after the team secured their lowest Premier League finish in eighth place. Despite ending their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion, United's performance was not enough to secure European football for the first time in a decade.

United concluded their season at the American Express Stadium with second-half goals from Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund. However, they finished three points behind sixth-placed Chelsea. The only chance for European qualification now hinges on their upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester City.

Ten Hag did not hold back in his evaluation of the season. "It is not good enough by far," he told Match of the Day. "Although we had less than 60 points two years ago [58 points in 2021-22], eighth is the worst performance. We should have done better."

Reflecting on the win over Brighton, Ten Hag noted, "The first half was too static. We changed something at half-time, and after that we had more control. We had a lot of problems defending Joao Pedro in the first half, but then we had more control, and we were better on the ball. In the end, the win is OK."

The Dutch manager emphasised that his players are committed to fighting for the FA Cup at Wembley. However, he refrained from discussing specific reasons behind their underwhelming season, stating it was not the right moment to delve into details.

Manchester United's performance this season has raised questions about their future strategies and potential changes within the squad. The upcoming FA Cup final will be crucial for both the team's morale and their chances of participating in European competitions next season.

Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 19, 2024