I’m A Fighter – Erik Ten Hag Says After Newcastle Defeat

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United’s football coach, acknowledged responsibility for the team’s Carabao Cup departure after the club lost 3-0 for the second time in four days to Newcastle on Wednesday night, November 1.

The devastating setback threw uncertainty on his future as Manchester United manager, considering the defeat came against Newcastle’s second team, but Ten Haag has come out to proclaim himself a ‘fighter.’

Ten Hag went from 8-1 odds favourite for the sack to second favourite among Premier League managers in the space of 90 minutes as he lost for the eighth time in 15 games this season.

“It is below the standards everyone expects from Manchester United – it is not good enough by far,” admitted the United boss.

“At this moment we are in a bad place. I take responsibility for it. I see it as a challenge. I am a fighter and I am in that fight and I have to make sure that I share the responsibility with my players and that we stick together and fight together, and get better results.

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“We have to put it right. It is my team and they are not performing. I am responsible. As a team, we are not good enough and whatever the reasons are, there is no space for excuses.

“We have to do things better and we have to raise our standards because otherwise you never get the right levels of performance and never get the results.

“But I am a fighter. I know it is not always going up and we have a lot of setbacks this season so far, but also you have to deal with it and that is never an excuse.”

Asked if he doubts his ability to turn United’s fortunes around, Ten Hag replied: “I understand it when the results are not there it is also a logical process that they are questioning that. But I am confident I can do it. At all my clubs I have done it and also last year here I did it as well.”

The humiliation on Wednesday night follows a 3-0 loss to Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday, which was met with boos at the final whistle.

“We have to do things right and at a certain level, at the minimum level to win games,” said Ten Hag. “Obviously, on Sunday and tonight were far from that.

“We are Manchester United and it is expected you can deal with that pressure. I heard the fans backing us. We don’t deserve it at this moment but I am happy they are behind us.”