Erik ten Hag expresses his frustration with Manchester United for not being able to secure a decisive victory over Twente in the Europa League.

Erik ten Hag expressed his disappointment following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Twente in the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday night. He lamented that his side “dropped their level” in the second half and failed to secure a vital victory.

The Red Devils took the lead at Old Trafford thanks to a stunning strike from Christian Eriksen, who seemed to be the hero of the night. However, the Danish midfielder’s evening took a turn for the worse when a costly error allowed Sam Lammers to equalise for the Dutch side in the second half.

In an interview with TNT Sports after the match, Ten Hag reflected on his team’s inability to extend their lead. He stated, “We kept them alive. One-nil up, controlling the game, you have to be consistent and keep going. In the second half we dropped the level and gave a goal away.”

The United manager was particularly frustrated with the manner in which his team conceded the equaliser. Lammers capitalised on some lackadaisical defending in the 68th minute, punishing United for their failure to maintain focus.

The travelling Twente fans were jubilant at the final whistle, celebrating a hard-earned point. Meanwhile, TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves was scathing in his assessment of United’s performance, highlighting their struggles to secure wins in a season where “they haven’t beaten anybody.”

Ten Hag added, “The goal is down to the team; a player of Twente can dribble through the whole pitch without stopping. We can’t give a goal away like this. We have seen again some good structures, but you have to build consistency. Once you are 1-0 up, you have to keep going and go for the second.”

Looking ahead, United have seven more fixtures in the League Phase of the newly revamped Europa League, where all 36 teams are ranked in a single table. Their next challenge comes on October 3, as they travel to Porto, followed by a trip to face Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on October 24.

Further matches against PAOK, Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, Rangers, and FCSB will follow, with the league phase concluding at the end of January. Ten Hag will be hoping his side can find the consistency needed to turn their fortunes around in the coming weeks.