Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag reveals dressing room message to players after crushing Copenhagen defeat
Man Utd news: Erik ten Hag has opened up on his dressing room message to players after Copenhagen defeat
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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has revealed what he told his players in the dressing room following their crushing defeat to Copenhagen on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils went into the game knowing defeat would all but end their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages.
United got off to the dream start, with Rasmus Hojlund netting a brace.
However, goals from Mohamed Elyounoussi and Diogo Goncalves levelled the match after Marcus Rashford saw red.
Man Utd news: Rasmus Hojlund scored twice during the early stages of Copenhagen Champions League clash
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Bruno Fernandes put United back in front from the penalty spot in the 69th minute.
Yet Copenhagen came roaring back, with further goals from Lukas Lerager and Roony Bardghji giving the Danish side all three points.
United, understandably, were devastated at full time.
They gave their all, even with 10 players on the pitch, with the club livid at the decision to dismiss Rashford.
Ten Hag is confident United can improve despite the disappointing setback.
And he's now revealed he encouraged his players in the dressing room after the defeat.
"This squad is resilient and the whole season so many decisions are against us, so many setbacks for injuries," he said.
"Every time there is a spirit, there is a fight and I said to the lads it will turn, one moment in the season it will turn in our favour.
"Football is a game of mistakes, I don't say we did everything right but I take a lot of positives, even with 10 men we are dictating the game.
"We played very good. We are very disappointed in the end we take nothing from this because it should have been different.
"Again, the attitude was great from the lads.
"They fought as a team, together, all on one page, fought for every yard on the pitch, shoulder for shoulder.
"So I can't make any criticism on the team for that."
When quizzed on whether the result was unfair, the Dutchman added: "Yeah, come on.
"The first 25 minutes, we dictated, dominated the game, 2-0 up and then the red card changes everything and we are down to 10.
"We are very disappointed."
Fernandes also spoke out after United lost their third Champions League match of the season.
And the Red Devils skipper insisted he was proud of the way his team-mates fought, despite being a man down for the majority of the match.
“It’s disappointment, obviously,” he stated.
“I think for everything we did in the game, we could, and should, have got something from the game.
“It’s difficult at the moment, obviously the mood is not the best because we’ve fought so hard with 10 men that even from then, it was playing against a team that plays really good on the ball and apart from that many decisions was against us.
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“Today was a tough day, but I think the team effort was good, we tried.
"We could have done some things better but it was difficult for us from 30 minutes on, playing with one player less.”
United are next in action against Luton on Saturday (3pm).
They'll be hoping for consecutive victories in the Premier League after a 1-0 win over Fulham last time out.