Erik ten Hag Urges Manchester United to “Step Up” Goal Scoring After Aston Villa Draw

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has called on his team to “step up” and improve their goal-scoring record following a goalless draw against Aston Villa. The result left United with the second-lowest goal tally in the Premier League and extended their run to three league games without finding the back of the net.

Despite having recorded their worst start to a campaign since 1989-90, with just five goals in seven league games, Ten Hag remains optimistic about the team’s future. He believes that once they start scoring goals, the overall picture will improve.

“We know in this moment we have a lack of goals, in that perspective it’s not a good start, we have to step up,” Ten Hag said. “That’s an area we have to improve. But we have four clean sheets. That’s good because we have to defend proper.”

The Dutch manager also praised the performances of several players, including the returning Rasmus Højlund, who is still working towards full fitness, as well as Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Antony.

“It will come. There are more reasons, sometimes it’s the form. We will get there. We trust the players and one day it will click,” Ten Hag added.

United’s defensive performance was a bright spot, with the team recording their third successive away clean sheet in the league, despite the disruption caused by Harry Maguire’s first-half injury. Ten Hag commended the team’s organization, togetherness, character, and resilience.

“I think it’s the fourth clean sheet this season,” Ten Hag said. “You see we had a very good organisation and togetherness. There was good character and good spirit as a team. We were determined, resilient.”

However, the manager acknowledged that the team needs to be more clinical and ruthless in the opposition’s box, stating, “Four clean sheets, 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 and we should have created more. But that area in the box of the opponent, we have to be more ruthless, more clinical, more killing and we have to work on this.”

Despite minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s presence in the stands and speculation surrounding Ten Hag’s position, the manager remains confident that he has the full backing of the board.

“We are all on board together, on one page, we know what we are working through it’s a long-term process,” Ten Hag said. “We have come through two very tough away games. This is a team, we showed the belief and faith we have. I don’t have any idea that is different [to the board backing him]. We communicate very openly and transparently.”

With the manager’s faith in his players and the board’s support, the Red Devils will look to turn their fortunes around in the coming weeks…