‘Stick together’: Ten Hag urges Man Utd

Beleaguered coach confident they can avert early season crisis as they risk UCL exit

MANCHESTER:

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes the Red Devils will work their way out of an early season crisis after facing questions over whether he fears losing his job.

United have lost six of their last nine matches after they lost 3-2 at home by Galatasaray on Tuesday.

The English giants have lost their opening two games of the Champions League group stage for the first time.

United are also off to their worst ever start to a Premier League season after losing four of their opening seven matches.

Ten Hag enjoyed a successful first season at Old Trafford, leading the club back into the Champions League by finishing third in the Premier League and ending a six-year trophy drought by lifting the League Cup.

"Last season went brilliant, terrific, more than we could expect," said the former Ajax boss.

"Also when we went into this project we knew there would be gaps. In this moment we are in a very difficult period as everyone can see but we (will) come out together.

"We are fighting together, we stick together, we are behind each other. Me, the directors, the team all together we will fight. This is not us. We know we have to do better and in togetherness we will come out (of this situation)."

Goalkeeper Andre Onana had another night to forget as his difficult start to life at United goes on.

He accepted responsibility for United's 4-3 defeat at Bayern Munich two weeks ago after a handling error led to the Germans' opening goal.

The Cameroonian was signed from Inter Milan for £47 million primarily for his ability to play the ball out from the back.

But Onana's slack pass straight to Dries Mertens proved the crucial point in the game as Casemiro dived in to bring the Galatasaray forward down and was shown a second yellow card on 77 minutes.

Mauro Icardi fired the resulting penalty wide, but made amends four minutes later by dinking the ball over Onana for the winner.

Onana was part of the Ajax side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and helped Inter reach the final of the competition last season.

Ten Hag defended his player when asked if Onana should be dropped.

"Andre was in one semi-final of the Champions League and last season he was in the final of the Champions League, so yes he has the capabilities to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

"He's showed that and he will do. We have already seen in games his great capabilities and personality. When he makes mistakes, he will bounce back."

Saka injury in Lens defeat 'a worry': Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted his team's 2-1 Champions League defeat against Lens in France on Tuesday was "a big lesson" as he confirmed Bukayo Saka had been forced off with a muscle injury.

The England winger limped off late in the Gunners' 4-0 Premier League win at Bournemouth at the weekend but recovered from that to start against Lens.

He duly set up Arsenal's opener for Gabriel Jesus, but went down just after the half-hour mark and had to be replaced by Fabio Vieira.

"He tried to back-heel a ball in the first half and he felt something, it was something muscular. He was uncomfortable to carry on so we had to take him off," said Arteta, who had seen Adrien Thomasson equalise for Lens before Saka came off.

Elye Wahi scored the winner for the hosts in the second half.

The injury raises fears that Saka, who has played in all but one of Arsenal's games this season and is their leading scorer, may not be fit to face Manchester City on Sunday.

His place in the England squad to play Australia and Italy this month could also be in doubt.

"It was big enough to stop him being able to continue and that is obviously a worry for us," said Arteta, who rejected suggestions Saka might have been rested here.