Erik ten Hag spoke candidly after Manchester United’s winless streak extended to four games in the Premier League with a draw against Bournemouth.
The match saw Bruno Fernandes rescue United twice with goals, ensuring a 2-2 draw.
The manager acknowledged the importance of patience from the fans during this challenging period for the team. He emphasized the need for consistent performance throughout the entire game, highlighting the team’s potential when everyone is in top form.
Regarding United’s potential drop in the league standings, Ten Hag dismissed the question as unimportant for the moment, focusing instead on addressing the team’s current challenges.
Bournemouth took an early lead through Dominic Solanke, showing determination and creating several scoring opportunities. However, United’s Fernandes equalized twice, securing a point for his team.
Despite United’s recent struggles, Fernandes’s performance earned praise from Ten Hag, who commended the captain for his energy and contributions to the team’s morale.
Looking ahead, United aims to regain momentum and focus on their upcoming FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City at Wembley.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth showcased progress under manager Andoni Iraola, displaying a strong performance and creating numerous scoring chances.
But, despite 20 attempts to the visitors’ eight, Smith’s misfortune and the VAR’s decision to overrule referee Tony Harrington’s on-field penalty call in the seventh minute of stoppage time saw them fall short of a first league double over United following their 3-0 win at Old Trafford in December.
Manager Iraola said: “We didn’t take our chances – we had chances to finish with a better result. All the refereeing decisions were against us today.
“It’s not bad luck – I complain about consistency. I can’t understand the decisions. I did not think it was a penalty from Adam Smith. I disagree
Despite their misfortune with refereeing decisions, Bournemouth’s resilience and attacking prowess were evident throughout the match.