Ten Hag cancels day off for Manchester United stars after Brentford thrashing

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By Martin Graham | 15th Aug 2022

After Saturday’s 4-0 defeat, Manchester United’s players were brought in for additional practice rather than their scheduled day off.

Following the team’s dismal 4-0 loss against Brentford, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag canceled a day off for his under-fire players on Sunday. On Saturday in west London, United gave up four goals in a dismal first-half performance and were unable to even grab a single goal, talk less of staging an unlikely comeback.

After their two games, Manchester United are now bottom of the Premier League table and you’ll have to go back to 1930 to find the last time this happened.

It gets even worse as the fixtures are not getting any kinder, with United welcoming Liverpool to Old Trafford the following Monday. Goal stated that Ten Hag summoned his team in for additional practice on Sunday because the new manager was already feeling the heat after just two games.

“It’s poor and rubbish. It’s obvious that we need stronger standards than that,” Ten Hag said to beIN Sports following the game.

We had to deliver, yet we failed to do so. It’s obvious that we must change.

“After 35 minutes, you’ve already given up four goals. It cannot be done. The group must accept accountability. For the fans, my heart goes out to them. We failed them.

What next for Ten Hag?

It is obvious that Ten Hag has lots of issues to solve at Manchester United and asides the obvious one which is buying players, he’ll need to sort the discipline and attitude on the pitch.

To start with, many are not in agreement with the idea of Harry Maguire as the club’s captain, especially as the England man has not shown any form of consistency talk less of justifying the heavy price tag that came with his signature.

To go with, players like Marcus Rashford are still deemed ‘untouchable’ at United, even after continuous displays that show they are way below the level and standard that is needed at the club.

Last time out against Brentford, David de Gea cost his side two goals and even claimed responsibility for the defeat after the game, begging the question of why United loaned out goalkeeper Dean Henderson to Nottingham Forest.

The biggest heartache to worry about obviously comes with Cristiano Ronaldo, who’s future continues to cause a cloud of doubt at Old Trafford. The Portuguese has clearly stated that he wants to leave the club but United have issued a public stance that they expect him to honour the full length of his contract.

As per reports, Ten Hag will still sign two more players for United before the transfer window ends but early indications suggest the problem goes far deeper than new players.