ERIK TEN HAG desperately tried to look on the bright side following Manchester United’s drab 0-0 draw with Aston Villa.
But Newcastle legend Alan Shearer claims he did not do himself any favours.
Ten Hag praised his team for the result at Villa Park – even though it left them 14th in the Premier League table.
He said: “Internal, we are disappointed, we know we have to do better, especially we need to score more, that is the moment in this area after this block of games where we are really short.
“All the other areas we are doing really well: four clean sheets, so that tells something about the defending and about the organisation, the defending of defensive transitions. We are doing really well, we are really improving on that point.
“Our build-up play is good, we are calm and composed. We are creating chances apart from today. Today we should have created more.”
Discussing Ten Hag’s post-match comments on The Rest is Football podcast, Match of the Day host Gary Lineker said: “I saw Erik ten Hag saying at the end of the game, ‘that’s a clean sheet, that’s four clean sheets now this season, we’re going in the right direction.’
“I just thought, well, if you’ve been struggling a bit like they have and you’ve tried to claim that performance is a step in the right direction…
“It’s always a decent point going away to Aston Villa, but it was pretty turgid, wasn’t it?”
BBC Sport pundit Shearer then chimed in to say: “In the grand scheme of things, going away to Villa and keeping a clean sheet, you look at it and think, ‘okay, yep, acceptable, good result,’ given their league positions.
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“But what he says after the game… I really don’t think he helps himself now and again when he says about ‘we’re going in the right direction.’
“They were 13th before the weekend and they’re now 14th!”
Man Utd officials are now understood to be targeting ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel as a potential replacement for Ten Hag.
However, they are yet to make contact with him.
Earlier this year, Tuchel told United that he was not interested in the job and instead wanted to take a break from management.
MANCHESTER UNITED eased the pressure slightly on boss Erik ten Hag with a hard-grafted stalemate at in-form Aston Villa.
United looked much more solid defensively after Ten Hag rung the changes – though the Red Devils still have just eight points from seven Prem games.
Here’s how SunSport’s Graeme Bryce rated 14th-placed United rated at Villa Park on Sunday.
ANDRE ONANA – 7
Guilty of sloppy distribution once or twice but his hands were safe enough and he did well to beat away a piledriver from Youri Tielemans to keep United on level terms.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6
Managed to contain Jaden Philogene comfortably enough in the first 45 minutes but failed to appear for the second half and was replaced by Victor Lindelof.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 6
Booked for a high forearm challenge on Ollie Watkins but his afternoon ended at half-time after he appeared to jar his knee defending a corner.
JONNY EVANS – 9
Handled Ollie Watkins well in the first 45 and showed all his experience to deal with the twin threat of Watkins and Jhon Duran for the final half hour. Rolled back the years with a five-star display to earn his Man of the Match rating.
DIOGO DALOT – 7
Sat in and rarely got forward but snuffed out the threat of Leon Bailey and was tidy enough. Crucial block to deny Philogene a stoppage time winner.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 7
Used all his experience to plug any gaps in United’s carefully constructed midfield. Dealt with the threat from Morgan Rogers well.
KOBBIE MAINOO – 7
Nothing flashy from the England midfielder who had his work cut out preventing Youri Tielemans carrying out his magic.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 6
Fired in a first-half shot which Emi Martinez dealt with comfortably but shot hopelessly wide a couple of times after the break. Sloppy finishing let him down.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 8
United’s skipper only played after his red card against Spurs was overturned on appeal.
Kept his cool here to avoid a third red card in three games – came closest for United with a free kick which crashed off the Villa crossbar.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 7
Taken off at half-time in Oporto and taken off after 64 minutes to save himself a second yellow card here!
Looked United’s likeliest match-winner after forcing an early save from Martinez before bringing the best out in the Argentine World Cup winner with a sizzling effort which the ‘keeper tipped over. Booked for a foul on Cash.
RASMUS HOJLUND – 6
Put himself about and was involved in the clash which led to Ezri Konsa limping off. But lacked service and was replaced by Zirkzee just beyond the hour mark. Below par.
SUBS
MATTHIJS DE LIGT for Maguire (46 minutes) – 5 – Conceded a few fouls in dangerous areas. Still finding his feet.
VICTOR LINDELOF for Mazraoui (46 mins) – 6 – First appearance since March but fitted in well as a stand-in right-back. Booked for a foul on Morgan Rogers.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE for Hojlund (64 mins) – 5 – Miles off the pace, failed to make any impact.
ANTONY for Rashford (64 mins) – 6 – Brought out the best in Emi Martinez with a curler which was heading for the top bin until the keeper plucked it out of mid-air.
CASEMIRO for Mainoo (85 mins) – 6 – Helped see out the match for United.
