Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has made it clear that he is “not Harry Potter” and that no magical solutions will suddenly turn things around for his struggling team. This came after a disappointing 3-0 home defeat against arch-rivals Liverpool, a match that saw United drop to 14th in the Premier League table with just three points from their opening three games.
The match at Old Trafford began ominously for United, with Liverpool having an early goal disallowed before Luis Diaz struck twice within seven minutes of the first half. Mohamed Salah added a third goal just nine minutes into the second half, leaving United fortunate to avoid a repeat of the humiliating 5-0 loss in the same fixture in 2021.
Ten Hag’s starting line-up included six of his own signings, highlighting the pressure on him to deliver results. One of the most notable absences was Manuel Ugarte, United’s latest £50.5 million acquisition from Uruguay. Although Ugarte was introduced to fans before the game, he wasn’t registered in time to participate and still needs time to build his fitness and integrate into the squad. Ten Hag emphasized the need for patience with new players, saying, “It is not like I am Harry Potter. You have to acknowledge that.”
The United manager further explained, “For three players it was their first start of the season. Manuel Ugarte did not play one minute – he needs to build his fitness. Then we have to build him into the team. I am sure he will contribute to our team. It will take a couple of weeks, maybe even a month. That is the same for a lot of players.”
Among the new players, striker Joshua Zirkzee had a particularly mixed performance. The Dutch forward missed United’s best chances, one shot going wide and another brilliantly saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Defensively, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez struggled to find cohesion, and England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was frequently exposed by Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch, who excelled in central positions throughout the match.
After the game, Ten Hag found himself in a heated exchange with a journalist during the post-match media conference. He dismissed suggestions that United have been repeating the same mistakes for the past two years, defending his vision and the progress the team has made under his leadership. “Otherwise we wouldn’t win trophies and beat bigger opponents,” he said. Despite acknowledging the hurtful nature of the loss, he insisted, “At the end of the season I am quite confident we will have a big chance to lift another trophy.”
The defeat also highlighted individual struggles within the team. Casemiro, the veteran Brazilian midfielder, was notably at fault for the first two Liverpool goals. He gave away possession to Gravenberch deep in United’s half for the first goal and was easily nudged off the ball by Diaz for the second. Ten Hag made the bold move to substitute Casemiro at half-time, bringing on 20-year-old Toby Collyer in an attempt to take more risks and cover more ground in midfield.
Speculation over Casemiro’s commitment arose when a video emerged on social media that appeared to show him leaving Old Trafford early. However, Ten Hag firmly denied these claims, stating, “He didn’t leave the stadium at half-time. I met him in the dressing room after the game. He won everything in his career. I am sure he will keep contributing to our team.”
Despite the tough start to the season, Ten Hag remains optimistic. “This defeat hurts for us and our fans. It is the third game of the season. We have to build a new team. We will be fine but it is clear we have to improve.” His message to supporters was clear: patience and persistence will be key as Manchester United seek to turn their season around and chase silverware once more.
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