Ten Hag left with egg on his face after Bayern star's "game-changing" moment
Erik ten Hag was made to eat his words after claiming Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies was "not a great defender" before Wednesday's game.
Manchester United made a poor start to their Champions League campaign, as Bayern Munich recorded a 4-3 victory. Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, Harry Kane and Mathys Tel all scored for the hosts, with Rasmus Hojlund and Casemiro finding the net in reply.
Yet Rio Ferdinand believes the result could've been different if it wasn't for Davies. The Bayern defender made a crucial interception to deny Facundo Pellistri in the fifth minute of the game, despite being criticised by Ten Hag shortly before kick-off.
The United manager's dig at Davies came while he was explaining the selection of Pellistri, who was picked ahead of fellow winger Alejandro Garnacho. Ten Hag told TNT Sports ahead of the game: "Pelle is doing very well at the moment."
He added: "Tactically, it works out very well for us because they have Davies who is very offensive, a lot of speed, and he can match that. He can match that offensively and defensively... Davies is not a great defender so, I think it will be a good game for him."
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Yet Ten Hag's opinion of Davies' defensive skills will have changed after Wednesday's game. Ferdinand is certainly a fan of the Canadian. While analysing the interception at half-time, the TNT Sports pundit said: "These are the moments.
"You come to big stadiums like these and it is hard work to get these opportunities, and when they come you have to punish them. But this is a game-changing tackle here, fantastic timing, he just about gets it right."
Davies made a crucial block early in the game (TNT Sports)What did you make of Manchester United's performance against Bayern Munich? Let us know in the comments below!
Bayern took the lead during the first half when Andre Onana let Sane's strike slip under him. Ferdinand said: "This is a nightmare scenario for Onana. He is as confident as you like with his feet. We were sitting there saying wow with some of his passes.
"But as a goalkeeper you are paid to come in there and make saves. This is a great bit of skill from Sane to set it up as well, but he does not hit it with any purpose - it’s not wide, it’s not in the corners and Onana and his reaction afterwards, he should save this.
"It is meat and drink for him and he should be picking this up and looking for his next pass. It’s a bad mistake and one that he needs to recover from."
Fellow pundit Paul Scholes added: "He knows he has made a huge mistake... he needs to recover from that and concentrate."
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