Erik ten Hag has hailed the resilience and spirit of his Manchester United players following their dramatic 4-3 UEFA Champions League defeat by Copenhagen, and insists their fortunes will turn.
On a breathless Wednesday night in Denmark, United twice led through Rasmus Hojlund goals and a Bruno Fernandes penalty, before 17-year-old Roony Bardghji sealed victory for the hosts. Marcus Rashford’s red card when Ten Hag's side were 2-0 up arguably proved the turning point.
See: Man Utd edged out in seven-goal thriller
United return to Premier League action when they host Luton Town on Saturday, and Ten Hag is confident of a response.
"This squad is resilient," Ten Hag told the official club website. "The whole season so many decisions are against us, so many setbacks or injuries.
"We are very disappointed, because you play very good. I think we started the game so well, the best minutes of this season.
"The first 25 minutes we dictated, dominated the game. We were 2-0 up and then the red card changes everything. And even when we are downsized to 10, we are keeping control the game.
"[But] every time there is a spirit and there is a fight and we will keep going because I'm sure, as I said, it will turn. Built on one moment in the season, it will turn in our favour.
"I think the attitude was great from the lads and they fought as a team. So together all on one pitch. They fought for every yard on the pitch, shoulder to shoulder. So I can't make any criticism on the team for that.”
Difficult season
Man Utd have now lost more than half of their matches in 2023/24. The Red Devils have not had so many defeats in their opening 17 matches of a campaign since 1973/74 - the last time they were relegated.
They have also conceded 30 goals across this period, exactly twice as many as they had after the same amount of matches last season.
United now need to win their last two Champions League Group A matches at Galatasary on 29 November and at home to Bayern Munich on 12 December to qualify from the group stage.
Group A standings
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Bayern Munich | 4 | 12 |
| Copenhagen | 4 | 4 |
| Galatasaray | 4 | 4 |
| Man Utd | 4 | 3 |
Long-serving midfielder and captain Fernandes, now in his eighth season at Old Trafford, shares Ten Hag's optimism about an upturn in fortunes both in Europe and on the domestic front.
"I think for everything we did in the [Copenhagen] game, we could, and should, have got something from the game," said Fernandes.
Post-match reaction from Bruno Fernandes.#MUFC || #UCL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 9, 2023
"Even before this game, that was still the belief; to win the last three games of the group stage. And now we have two, we have to win them if we want to keep in the Champions League and stay in the best competition. We have to win against the best.
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“But now we have to focus on Luton, because it’s going to be a tough game again.
"We need three points in the league. We need to get back to the winning track after this defeat and keeping the winning track in the Premier League.”