Erik ten Hag fumes at Manchester United players for not following his rules

Man United ended their pre-season tour of the USA with a narrow 3-2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas.

Erik ten Hag was unhappy with some Manchester United players because ‘they didn’t follow his rules’ in the second half against Borussia Dortmund.

Ten Hag has insisted his team don’t play friendly games and a positive result against Dortmund was the target after defeat against Real Madrid, but the Bundesliga runners-up claimed a 3-2 victory at the Allegiant Stadium.

Although United took the lead through an excellent Diogo Dalot strike in the 24th minute, Dortmund scored two goals in quick succession just before half-time and that suddenly changed the direction of the game in their favour. United player ratings vs Dortmund

Andre Onana replacing Tom Heaton was the only change made at the break and United drew level shortly after play resumed when Dortmund failed to clear the danger and Antony swept home into the bottom left corner.

Just after the hour mark, wholesale changes were made and the regular first-team starters were brought on, but they failed to make a significant impact and Dortmund made it 3-2 when taking advantage of Aaron Wan-Bissaka losing possession.

Ten Hag spoke to MUTV after the game and he scolded the players who featured from the bench in the last half an hour.

The manager insisted they didn’t follow his rules and he said it was ‘unforgivable’ to do that, even in a pre-season friendly.

“Yeah, [the game was] two parts, the first hour was good, playing as a team, lot of dynamic, good pressing,” a frustrated Ten Hag said. “So it was really enjoyable to see and that’s what I wanted to say at half-time, but all of a sudden, they give two goals away.

“They were giveaways and that was annoying. But the last half an hour, it was bad, a poor performance. They didn’t follow the rules at all, not in pressing, not in building up or when attacking. They were 11 individuals on the pitch.

“That wasn’t good at all. I said to the team, I think it was a good tour, but you want to finish with a good performance and there was only 60 minutes that I was pleased with, but not with the goals we conceded because the first one was poor defending and the second one was poor in build-up.

“That’s not us, we have to keep control, keep responsibility on the ball and it was the same for the 3-2. That can’t happen and it’s unforgivable, even if it’s a friendly.”