ISSUES
‘The problems are still there’ – Manchester United fans told to be ‘concerned’ after last-gasp Europa League win over minnows but Erik ten Hag backs players
Erik ten Hag appeared relaxed after Manchester United's narrow win over Omonia Nicosia, however, Jason Cundy believes fans should be 'concerned' by what they saw.
The Red Devils made hard work of their clash with the Cypriot side, securing just a 1-0 win against the minnows thanks to an stoppage-time winner from substitute Scott McTominay.
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While United had more than 30 shots on goal and 80 per cent possession during the clash at Old Trafford, fans were still frustrated by the lack of goals on show.
But the club's head coach is backing his team to find their shooting boots in future matches.
Asked if the win is the most important thing, Ten Hag told BT Sport: “No. Football is about scoring goals and we created so many chances but the ball only went in the net one time. It was enough for the win and we are happy with that.
“I had to make the team compliment, keep patient, keep going in the right positions, keep creating chances and allow the opponent to come out and so I think that they did one.
“I know how football is and already we’ve scored so many goals. In every game we score and I have the faith that we will continue that.
“We have scoring players so I’m not concerned about this. I hope that we’ve saved the goals for next week!”
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However, Jason Cundy wasn't so convinced by United's display, suggesting that the club's problems of previous years are still there.
Speaking on The Sports Bar, Cundy said: “As we all know in football, the result is obviously the most important thing, of course it is and that will never change, but there are always games and moments in a team’s season where you want to see a better performance and a better result.
“United dominated the game but they could have dropped points and those dropped points could have been fatal.
“They can still top the group, they go to Real Sociedad and still have to play there, but this a group that Manchester United should be running away with and they’re not.
“The problems at United are still there.
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“I thought the performance against Everton at the weekend was pretty poor, I thought that both sides were bang average. Ronaldo got the chance and finished it off, but that could have been a draw.
“It’s about the result and how you perform and what does the next game look like and the game after that.”
Responding to Jamie O’Hara’s comments that it’s only the result that matters, Chelsea fan Cundy replied: “Yeah, but in an isolated situation that conversation is fine, but when you broaden it and you talk about the bigger picture – that’s what football is about, the bigger picture.
“If you want to talk about tonight’s game and leave the conversation there without talking about the weekend, that’s fine, but we don’t and never do.
“United fans and every football fan always has the bigger picture in their mind, what does my club look like?
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“I’ve done it. Look, we’ve got Graham Potter in, are we doing okay? Yeah. Are we where we should be? No, we’re not.
“There are still players there who, right now, aren’t performing to the level that I want or expect them to, and if you’re an honest football fan about your club and United fans are generally very honest, they should be saying ‘we got out of jail tonight’.
“How can a team like United when playing at home against Omonia Nicosia – a team that genuinely, I’d never heard of them before!
“How can this be happening that Scott McTominay nicks a winner in injury time? If United fans are honest they should say that they’re concerned about their club.”
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