10 December 2023 , 03:00
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Erik ten Hag endured a cascade of angry booing as Manchester United fans voted with their feet after a shocking defeat by Bournemouth and told his inconsistent side: "We have to get tougher!"
Old Trafford was significantly empty at the final whistle as Bournemouth and their fans celebrated a first ever victory at United to leave the Dutchman fearing for his job. United face Bayern Munich in a must-win game on Tuesday with their Champions League progress already out of their hands. And they will now be without skipper Bruno Fernandes who picked up a fifth booking and is suspended for Sunday’s Anfield crunch.
United have now lost seven Premier League games with the Cherries inflicting a fourth defeat in nine home games for ten Hag’s erratic stars.
Dominic Solanke opened the scoring after just four minutes and second half goals by Philip Billing and Marcos Senesi, five minutes apart, saw Old Trafford empty to set alarm bells ringing for ten Hag’s future with the imminent arrival of new investor Siur Jim Ratcliffe. But ten Hag didn’t attempt to defend his stars saying: “I think the way we started is no good, that is poor.
“Conceding in the first five minutes and especially against an opponent which is a very good transition team, you give them the perfect circumstances.
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“After the 2-0 we break down and have to do things better. I definitely expected something different and I hoped before the game we can build on the performance and result from Chelsea, so I’m very disappointed with the way we started the game.
“I think we have to always be ready for a game and so I have to take the responsibility for it, I have to prepare my team for the game. We are really inconsistent. We have to become tougher and be ready for the game from the start. It can’t happen that you so easily concede a goal.”