Jamie Carragher has accused Erik ten Hag of clutching at straws after Manchester United’s Champions League defeat (Picture: CBS Sport)
Jamie Carragher has accused Erik ten Hag of ‘clutching at straws’ in his attempt to defend Manchester United’s performance in their Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich.
In order to qualify for the last 16. the Red Devils needed a win against one of the favourites for the competition and for the other game in Group A to end in a draw.
As it transpired, FC Copenhagen finished as runners-up after their victory against Galatasaray which ultimately rendered United’s game against Bayern meaningless.
Ten Hag’s side, ultimately, crashed out of Europe altogether, missing out on the consolation prize of a Europa League place, and finished bottom of the group following a listless 1-0 defeat.
The Dutchman attempted to defend United’s performance, during which they hardly laid a glove on Bayern, and declared himself satisfied with a display that yielded just a solitary shot on target.
In mitigation, United’s cause was hardly helped by the absences of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, while Erik ten Hag and Luke Shaw both picked up injuries ahead of Sunday’s daunting trip to Anfield.
United, infamously, lost 7-0 in the corresponding fixture last season and Carragher believes Ten Hag’s post match comments were those of a manager practicing a damage limitations exercise.
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‘I think what happens is because it’s been so poor for Manchester United this season, you’re playing one of the top teams in Europe, you are missing injured players,’ he told CBS Sports.
‘I think it’s almost a case of because you haven’t been beaten 3-0 or 4-0, 1-0 actually feels OK.
‘You’re in the game for an hour. He’s probably watching the game thinking we’re still in this and it’s almost like a slight feelgood factor.
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‘Because you lose 3-0 to Bournemouth, you’re now playing one of the giants of European football and you only lose 1-0, he’s trying to take something from it to then get to Sunday.
‘That will be the message to the players ‘you were playing one of the top teams in Europe anything could’ve happened, we’ve got to go to Anfield now and try to produce some sort of performance’.
‘A result looks really tough on paper but I think that’s just a manager trying to clutch at straws.’
MORE : Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United squad was ‘limited’ after Bayern Munich defeat
MORE : Peter Schmeichel says Manchester United midfielders are ‘confused’ after Champions League exit
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