Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, responded to Jamie Carragher’s critique of his team’s tactics in the recent 2-1 loss to Fulham, dismissing it as “subjective” analysis.
During Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Carragher questioned United’s setup during Saturday’s match. While acknowledging Carragher’s point, Ten Hag noted that Carragher has consistently criticized United’s approach.
“Some analysts offer objective comments and valuable insights, while others tend to be more subjective,” remarked Ten Hag. “Jamie Carragher has been critical from the outset, and now he’s emphasizing his viewpoint.”
Carragher highlighted United’s unconventional defensive approach, noting vulnerabilities in their defensive structure that Fulham effectively exploited, leading to Fulham’s victory at Old Trafford.
Acknowledging Carragher’s observations, Ten Hag conceded, “In the first half-hour, he may have had a point. Fulham’s midfield setup posed unexpected challenges, and we had to adapt. However, after the initial phase, we adjusted accordingly.”
Expressing dissatisfaction with United’s defensive performance, particularly on the left side, Ten Hag emphasized the importance of resilience, intensity, and determination in pressing and defensive organization.
Despite Harry Maguire’s late equalizer, Fulham secured victory in injury time, exposing defensive lapses that Ten Hag deemed unacceptable.
Looking ahead to the FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest, Ten Hag stressed the need for improvement and emphasized the team’s responsibility to perform consistently at a higher level.
