BOURNEMOUTH, England — Erik ten Hag has denied that Manchester United are out of the race to qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League after the group’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday.
United, who’ve gained simply considered one of their previous seven matches in all competitions, are 10 factors behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and fifth-placed Tottenham with six video games remaining within the race for a spot in subsequent season’s Champions League.
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“We give what we will, however I’m additionally sensible,” Ten Hag instructed a information convention after the full-time whistle.
“And so when the total squad was there, I nonetheless would’ve stated excessive perception, however we’ll hold combating additionally with the gamers who can be found. And also you see there’s excessive potential but in addition younger gamers.
“Yeah, they make errors and in the event that they need to carry out each Premier league [game] they usually proved they will compete with the very best groups on the best stage. They proved. However now they need to do it constantly and that’s at all times the subsequent step for younger gamers.”
Requested if he accepted that the Champions League is past his group now, Ten Hag stated: “No. No, I did not say that.”
United’s failure to beat Bournemouth, and Newcastle’s 4-0 win over Tottenham earlier on Saturday, meant that Ten Hag’s group dropped to seventh within the desk.
Ten Hag refused to reply a query as he left the information convention on the potential of United slipping even decrease within the desk. If United had been to finish the season in eighth place or decrease it will be the membership’s worst end in Premier League historical past.
“I do not take that query,” Ten Hag stated. “That’s not vital at this second.”
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Ten Hag has needed to take care of a litany of accidents to his squad this season, significantly in central defence the place he’s with out the likes of Lisandro MartÃnez, Raphaël Varane, Victor Lindelöf and Jonny Evans.
Harry Maguire partnered 19-year-old Willy Kambwala within the draw on the Vitality Stadium, whereas Aaron Wan-Bissaka crammed in at left-back as a result of absence of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
“You see our again 4 and that is telling the story, however we all know our demand,” the Dutch coach stated.
“However that is telling completely the story and particularly if then one of many gamers is struggling after which we could not change the system as properly as a result of we’re [have] run out of centre halves.”
Kambwala nearly gave away a penalty that may have given Bournemouth the chance to grab all three factors in stoppage time, however VAR Jarred Gillett overturned referee Tony Harrington’s determination to award a spot-kick. Gillett deemed that the defender collided with Ryan Christie outdoors the field, in what was a decent name.
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola disagreed with the choice and felt his group was denied an “apparent” penalty.
“I consider fully it was a penalty,” Iraola instructed Sky Sports activities.
“Towards Newcastle the penalty in opposition to us, the contact began outdoors the field. However [today] the primary body was put so the primary contact was on the sting of the field, however the contact continues one, two metres inside and is stopping the participant.
“It isn’t only one second and Christie is down. The defender goes with Christie one, two metres contained in the field. For me it’s apparent.”
