Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has faced a challenging start to the new Premier League season, culminating in a sobering 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool. The Dutchman, who is already feeling the heat just three games into the season, addressed the media to share his thoughts and plans moving forward. Ten Hag expressed his frustration but was also quick to clarify that he doesn’t possess magical solutions, referencing the fictional wizard Harry Potter to describe his predicament.
The defeat against Liverpool marked a particularly disheartening performance for Manchester United, with players like Andre Onana and Kobbie Mainoo visibly dejected as they left the pitch. Coming after a surprising 2-1 loss to Brighton the previous weekend, the pressure has intensified on ten Hag to deliver results rapidly.
Manchester United’s FA Cup final triumph against Manchester City back in May was a rare highlight, keeping ten Hag’s position secure after a dismal previous season that saw them finish eighth—United’s lowest ever Premier League finish. The exhilaration of that victory and the promise of a revamped squad created a sense of optimism, but that has quickly dissipated.
Ten Hag, who previously managed Ajax with notable success, was awarded a contract extension and significant financial backing over the summer. The club spent £200 million ($262 million) on new talent, hoping to rejuvenate the squad. However, the optimism surrounding these developments was abruptly muted as Liverpool walked away victorious. This match represented a significant test for Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot, who has succeeded Jurgen Klopp.
“It’s not like I’m Harry Potter, that is what you have to acknowledge,” Ten Hag remarked during his post-match conference, underscoring the reality that construction and development—even in football—requires time.
“We just had a third game in the season, again we have to build a new team. We will build this new team; we have young players, and we are incorporating them into the squad during the season. Today we had two or three players that didn’t start the season and they didn’t play 90 minutes,” he elaborated.
Ten Hag remains hopeful despite the setbacks. “We will be fine.
. It’s clear we have to improve, but at the end of the season, I’m quite confident that we will have a big chance to lift another trophy,” he added, striking a tone of cautious optimism.
One of the more telling aspects of United’s current struggles is mirrored in the performance of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro. Once a stalwart presence, Casemiro’s mishaps during the match were glaring. He lost possession twice, directly leading to Liverpool’s first two goals. His underwhelming performance saw him being substituted at half-time, with Toby Collyer taking his place on the pitch.
This string of unfortunate results has led many supporters to question United’s preparedness and ten Hag’s tactical decisions. However, the manager urged patience and underscored the importance of giving the new team time to gel. “Building a team is not instantaneous. These things need time, and while the results are painful, they are also part of the larger process,” he said.
The game against Liverpool has cast a shadow over what was expected to be the dawn of a new era at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag’s statement that he is no “Harry Potter” resonated as a stark reminder that football management, despite the vast sums of money and high expectations, still contends with the unpredictable elements of sport.
Ten Hag concluded by emphasizing the importance of long-term vision over short-term panic. He assured fans and the board alike that improvements would come with persistence and hard work. “At the end of the day, it’s about the journey and the progress we make. We will lift another trophy, I am confident,” he reiterated.
As Manchester United continue their Premier League campaign, the immediate focus will be on arresting the slide and regaining composure. With several new players to integrate into the squad, the road ahead looks daunting, but ten Hag’s message remains clear: the magic lies not in instantaneous fixes but in steady, deliberate progress.
