In Manchester, England, Manchester United’s recent heartbreaking loss to Chelsea has left manager Erik ten Hag determined to use it as motivation for their upcoming match against Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Ten Hag emphasized the need for the team to channel the anger and frustration from Thursday’s 4-3 defeat as they aim to close the nine-point gap to the top five teams in the league.
“We have to quickly bounce back from this setback. We need to shift our focus to a positive mindset starting tomorrow,” he told reporters. “Our disappointment can be turned into energy and determination.”
Sitting sixth in the table with 48 points, United have suffered a blow this week by dropping five points due to late goals conceded in both the Chelsea match and the previous 1-1 draw against Brentford.
“Every point is crucial at this stage of the season as the games are dwindling,” the Dutch manager acknowledged. “We must learn to see out games, secure victories, and claim those vital three points.”
Ten Hag expressed confidence in the character and resilience of his squad, highlighting their recent FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool as evidence of their ability to compete with the top teams.
“We possess the quality and talent necessary to perform at a high level. We have proven that we can challenge and defeat the best teams in the Premier League,” he stated.
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
