Erik ten Hag agrees with Steve McClaren over Man Utd's main problem this season

Manchester United spell into their crippled against Tottenham connected Sunday aft 2 dreadful matches successful beforehand of extremity - and their manager and erstwhile manager are wide what needs to improve

Erik 10 Hag knows that helium needs to get much goals retired of Manchester United’s guardant enactment successful bid to easiness the unit connected him.

United person won conscionable 3 of their 7 matches crossed each competitions this play pursuing the disappointing 1-1 gully against FC Twente connected Wednesday. Twente goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall enactment successful an inspired show to heap unit connected Ten Hag, who present faces 3 tricky fixtures earlier the planetary break.

The Red Devils big Tottenham this play earlier distant fixtures against Porto and Aston Villa. They beryllium 11th successful the Premier League, having won conscionable 2 of their 5 games truthful acold – and their grounds of 5 goals is measly, particularly due to the fact that 3 of those came against struggling Southampton.

United are relying connected Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to find the backmost of the net, but Ten Hag’s erstwhile adjunct manager Steve McClaren has pointed the digit elsewhere, telling TNT Sports: “The wingers request to contribute, the midfielders request to contribute.”

It seemed arsenic though United mightiness person turned the country erstwhile their 3-0 triumph implicit Southampton was followed by a 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley successful the Carabao Cup. But a goalless gully astatine Crystal Palace saw Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes spurn immense chances earlier the taxable continued against Twente.

After kicking disconnected the Europa League run successful an underwhelming fashion, Ten Hag was asked what the main occupation was. “Not scoring goals, not scoring goals enough,” helium replied. “That’s the problem, the cardinal area. We person to people much goals arsenic a team. I deliberation we person players crossed the squad who person the quality to score. That’s clear. You spot each the opportunities we are creating, we are not scoring enough.”

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Zirkzee began his United vocation with a victor against Fulham, but has not scored successful six appearances since, portion Hojlund is lone conscionable returning from a hamstring injury. Asked if helium believes Zirkzee tin go a prolific goalscorer for United, Ten Hag said: “Yes, I do. He is young, we spot his capabilities. He is simply a precise bully link-up player, he’s creative, he’s creating chances.

“But, to beryllium fair, besides helium has perfectly his moments towards the extremity of the opposition. Yesterday arsenic good I deliberation it was a large enactment helium had with a large arsenic well. It was a apical prevention from the keeper. In that country helium tin decidedly amended but we knew that beforehand. He has immoderate precise bully attributes and besides immoderate attributes helium has to amended and determination helium needs our enactment however to improve.”

United lone managed 57 goals successful the Premier League past play – the associated lowest of immoderate broadside successful the apical 10, 20 less than Chelsea and 39 down Manchester City. They volition effort to amended their mediocre grounds erstwhile they big Tottenham astatine Old Trafford connected Sunday.

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