March 3rd 2024.
Following Sunday's Manchester derby at the Etihad, United manager Erik ten Hag addressed the media about his team's performance. Despite losing 3-1 to their rivals, Ten Hag was quick to point out that the gap between United and City is not as wide as some may think.
In the match, United only managed to get one shot on target, with an expected goal (xG) of 0.19 compared to City's 3.15. However, Ten Hag believes that his team had a fighting chance and were just a few small details away from securing a better result.
When asked if the defeat was a reminder of the gap between the two Manchester clubs, Ten Hag replied confidently, "No, I don't think so. We have a lot of injuries at the moment, but we still had a chance. It was a very small margin. We could have even scored a second goal in a couple of questionable moments."
The Dutch manager went on to mention the FA Cup final against City, where United narrowly lost 1-0. This, according to Ten Hag, proves that when his team is at full strength, they can be competitive with the best in the world.
He then acknowledged City's current status as the best team in the world and praised their performance in the match. But he also believes that United can still make a push for the top four in the Premier League, despite being 11 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa with 11 games left.
"It's still possible for us to turn things around," Ten Hag stated. "We have another important match coming up against Everton next Saturday and we have to win it. Fifth position can also secure a spot in the Champions League, so we have to fight for it."
Ten Hag's positive attitude and determination to keep pushing for a top-four finish is commendable. Although United may have lost the derby, they are not far behind their rivals and still have a chance to achieve their goals this season.
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