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Premier League top scorer Alan Shearer has blasted Erik ten Hag's Manchester United as 'awful' after the 3-0 Premier League home loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday (September 30).
The Red Devils conceded early before losing captain Bruno Fernandes to a red card on the cusp of half-time. Spurs then scored twice without reply in the second half.
On The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said that he has no clue what the plan is from Ten Hag. He added that Manchester United are beyond just inconsistent, elaborating:
“Can anyone tell me what Manchester United are? What is their system? What is their plan? Do they sit, do they attack, do they press? I don’t know. I don’t have a clue what they are.
"They are a mess. [Richards interupted and said inconsistent] Inconsistent? They’re 12th in the league. That means they’re not inconsistent, they’re bloody awful. That means they’re consistently not very good.”
Manchester United are 12th in the Premier League and could slip to 13th if Bournemouth beat Southampton. The Red Devils have won just two of their opening six matches, losing three.
Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United were poor against Tottenham
Erik ten Hag has admitted that Manchester United couldn't execute their plans against Tottenham and were on the back foot after conceding early. He said that the counter-attack goal should have been avoided, though:
"It was clear we started the game very poor. After we concede the goal like we did in the third minute, and you are actually outnumbering (the opposition), and then concede a goal from a counter-attack where a centre-half is crossing the whole pitch and then bring, on the goalline, a cross in and then on the back post tapping in."
The boss added:
"That was our game plan. We should protect that area very good in your best defence in the defensive transition, because we knew the strength and from that point on, we are very stressful in the game and in possession. We didn’t find the spare man in the switch, bad decision-making.
"We couldn’t keep the ball, not aggressive enough or to play around with third-man actions, too many ball losses and also we didn’t get the press right. First 20 minutes was no good, but we were still alive ,and we also had our chances with Zirkzee, with Garnacho hitting the post, then you can always come back. But then the red card, then we are downsized and it also has a big impact in the game," he added.
Manchester United next take on FC Porto on Thursday (October 3) in the UEFA Europa League.
