Erik ten Hag bemoans Man Utd's 'unacceptable' loss to Atletico Madrid
By Sean Walsh
Erik ten Hag has insisted it is 'not acceptable' for his Manchester United side to waste so many good chances but concede from the few they give away following their 1-0 pre-season friendly defeat to Atletico Madrid.
The Red Devils were beaten in Norway but created several good chances, though the likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes were unable to beat Jan Oblak.
Speaking post-match, Ten Hag revealed he is not happy to have lost the match and was also annoyed at Man Utd's lack of cutting edge.
"We learned a lot but in the end, it’s about a result and the score is not good," the boss said. "You have to take benefit if you create chances and we created many chances. We needed to produce at least one goal and we didn’t.
"From the few chances they created, they scored, so from that part I am not satisfied. It’s not acceptable. You have to be sharp in the box, at both ends."
Ten Hag threw on Christian Eriksen as a second half substitute and the Dane looked at home in Man Utd's midfield, and the Dutchman is aware of the playmaker's qualities.
"We know what [Eriksen] is able to do. With our front men, he is able to give them in the right moment the right passes," he added.
"So he will create chances; then it is about finishing."
Man Utd will return to England to face Rayo Vallecano in their final pre-season friendly on Sunday, with Cristiano Ronaldo in line to feature.