Erik ten Hag expressed his pride but also pointed out that Manchester United must take responsibility for their own errors in the draw against Liverpool.

Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, expressed his disappointment after his team’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool, stating that they only have themselves to blame for making foolish errors. This comes after United once again squandered a lead, following their dramatic 4-3 defeat against Chelsea just days ago.

Last weekend, United conceded a last-minute equaliser against Brentford, resulting in a 1-1 draw. This time, they were leading 2-1 against their rivals, but a penalty scored by Mohamed Salah in the 84th minute meant that the points were shared.

As a result, United now find themselves 11 points behind Tottenham in fifth place, with little chance of securing a top-four finish and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

Speaking to the BBC, Ten Hag expressed his mixed emotions about the result. He admitted his disappointment at dropping seven points in one week from winning positions, but also expressed pride in the team’s improvement and potential.

Ten Hag highlighted the team’s struggles in decisive areas, particularly with young players lacking confidence in winning duels. However, he praised the players for stepping up in the second half and encouraged them to do better.

When discussing the reasons behind their failure to hold onto a lead, Ten Hag pointed to physical fatigue after a demanding game against Chelsea and the frustration of returning from London. He also mentioned the lack of belief in winning such duels.

In terms of injuries, Ten Hag provided mixed news. He expressed doubt about the return of central defenders Jonny Evans and Raphael Varane in the near future. However, he was more optimistic about Marcus Rashford’s injury, stating that he doesn’t believe it will be a long-term issue.

Ten Hag reserved special praise for 18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who scored a fantastic goal to put his team in front. He acknowledged Mainoo’s talent and expressed hope that he continues to improve.

Overall, it was a disappointing result for Manchester United, but Ten Hag remains optimistic about the team’s potential and the progress they are making.