Erik ten Hag slams Manchester United glorify defender for Melbourne Victory goal

Melbourne Victory scored on Man United’s awful defending in their second win under Erik ten Hag.

Manchester United’s defenders crumbled “like a pack of cards” for Melbourne Victory’s goal in their 4-1 win, according to Erik ten Hag.

In a move that began with a goal kick, Chris Ikonomidis handed the A-League team an early lead. The ball was played past Luke Shaw and then Victor Lindelof after he pressed high up into the Melbourne half.

On his first appearance under Ten Hag, Harry Maguire failed to foresee the threat and was left behind by Ikonomidis, who swept in Ben Folami’s cross.

Maguire was injured and missed Liverpool’s win against United in Bangkok on Tuesday, but his sluggishness was eerily identical to when Liverpool scored their opening goal in the 4-0 thrashing of United at Anfield in April.

United came back from a 1-0 deficit to win 4-1 thanks to goals from Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, and an own goal.

Ten Hag was hesitant to criticize individuals, but he was dissatisfied with United’s defensive set-up. “I know, I don’t want to talk about the individual because I believe it was from the beginning, high up on the pitch, poor choices, and then it ends up like a pack of cards.”

“It’s not just one person; the team as a whole made blunders.”

Although Maguire has retained his captaincy, Argentinian center-back Lisandro Martinez, who is scheduled to join United for £46 million, will provide further competition.

Martinez’s arrival may downgrade Lindelof to fourth-choice center-back, and Ten Hag has already signed Dutch left-back Tyrell Malacia to provide new competition for Shaw.

Raphael Varane was nursing a small injury and was not risked at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, thus Lindelof kept his starting berth.