Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has taken some positives from his team’s Community Shield defeat to Manchester City on Saturday. Despite the loss, Ten Hag emphasized the importance of feeling the pain of defeat and using it as motivation for the upcoming Premier League season.United initially took the lead through a second-half goal by substitute Alejandro Garnacho, but City equalized late on through Bernardo Silva, who celebrated his birthday with the crucial goal. The match eventually went to penalties, where United lost 7-6.
Reflecting on the result, Ten Hag said, “It’s a tough result to take. When you perform well and still lose, it hurts. We need to carry this pain into the league and believe we can compete with City.”
Throughout the match, United missed several clear chances to extend their lead. Amad Diallo’s misplaced pass to Mason Mount and Marcus Rashford’s missed opportunity from a Garnacho cross were notable missed chances.
As United prepares to kick off their Premier League campaign at home against Fulham next Friday, Ten Hag will be looking for more clinical finishing from his squad to ensure they don’t repeat these mistakes.Erik ten Hag’s response to Manchester United’s Community Shield defeat to Manchester City underscores his focus on turning setbacks into motivation for the upcoming Premier League season. Despite taking the lead through Alejandro Garnacho, United couldn’t maintain their advantage, allowing Bernardo Silva to equalize late on before losing 7-6 in a penalty shootout.
Ten Hag emphasized the importance of learning from the pain of defeat, suggesting that this experience should fuel the team’s drive as they enter the league campaign. The missed opportunities by Amad Diallo, Mason Mount, and Marcus Rashford highlighted areas where United needs to improve, particularly in finishing chances to secure victories.
As United prepares for their Premier League opener against Fulham, Ten Hag will undoubtedly be focusing on tightening up these aspects to ensure a more clinical performance and avoid repeating the same mistakes. His message is clear: the team must believe in their ability to compete with the very best, including Manchester City.
