Ten Hag aims bitter dig after Europa League results amid fixture nightmare Manchester United
Ten Hag aims bitter dig after Europa League results against Real Sociedad amid fixture nightmare for Manchester United.
Manchester United needed to win by at least two goals to topple Real Sociedad in their Europa League group but could only manage a 1-0 victory over the Spaniards
After his team was forced to settle for second place in their Europa League group, Erik ten Hag bemoaned the manner of Real Sociedad’s victory over Manchester United in early September.
Brais Mendez’s second-half penalty, which was given after Lisandro Martinez was found to have handled the ball, gave the Spanish team a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils had to constantly play catch-up in Group E as a result of the outcome of the first game.
Despite defeating Sociedad 1-0 on Thursday night to exact retribution, United came in second on goal differential, meaning they must win a daunting play-off to advance to the knockout stage.
Ten Hag cut a frustrated figure as he spoke shortly after the full-time whistle, clearly feeling his side had ultimately been made to pay for poor officiating earlier in the group stage.
“You do not always get what you deserve,” the Red Devils manager told BT Sport. “In the first game, there was a penalty that we didn’t think was a penalty, but today we won. There are some positives, [Alejandro] Garnacho, and Donny [Van de Beek] back in the team. We scored a good goal but unfortunately, we didn’t get the two we needed.”
Garnacho scored a fine goal in the first half to give United the ideal start in pursuit of the victory by a margin of two goals which they needed to top the group.
Manchester United faces fixture nightmare
Manchester United face a nightmare fixture schedule after their place in the Europa League play-off round was confirmed on Thursday night.
They will play a two-legged play-off match in the Europa League next February after finishing second in Group E.
That tie now needs to be played across February 14 and February 21, adding a further two fixtures to a packed schedule that is already in need of finding space for another two rearranged matches.
All remaining empty midweek slots are currently reserved for possible FA Cup replays, League Cup dates, European dates, or empty midweeks already reserved for specified catch-up dates for domestic cup competitions.
Manchester United’s nightmare fixture schedule
January 10 – Carabao Cup quarter-final
Jan 17 – FA Cup third-round replays
Jan 24 – Carabao Cup semi-final first leg
Jan 31 – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg
February 7- FA Cup fourth-round replays
Feb 14 – European competition knockouts
Feb 21 – European competition knockouts
Feb 28 – FA Cup fifth round
March 7 – European competition knockouts
March 14 – European competition knockouts
March 21 – International break
March 28 – International break
April 4 – vacant midweek
April 11 – European competition quarter-final
April 18 – European competition quarter-final
April 25 – Premier League fixtures
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