Erik Ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, took responsibility for his team’s loss of yet another lead in the Champions League as Galatasaray held them to a 3-3 draw on Wednesday.
In Istanbul, the three-time European champions squandered a two-goal lead on two occasions due to goalkeeper Andre Onana’s two costly errors, putting their hopes of reaching the last 16 in jeopardy.
United are at the bottom of Group A with four points from five matches, but they are still just one point adrift of Copenhagen and Galatasaray. They must beat group winners Bayern Munich on Dec. 12 to progress.
United let a two-goal lead slip in an earlier group game in Copenhagen before losing 4-3, and Ten Hag said their inability to see games out was down to him.
“It’s always me (who is to blame for throwing away leads). I am responsible for this, but I also know we are in a project,” the Dutchman told TNT Sports.
“We are in the right direction, so I know where we have to go and which steps we have to take, and I’m sure we will be successful in the long term.
“If we want to stay in the Champions League, we have to win the next game.”
Ten Hag was confident they would find a way to stop conceding so many goals.
United have scored the most goals in their group with 12 but have also conceded 14 goals, tying with Celtic for the second-worst defensive record in this year’s Champions League.
Only Antwerp in Group H has conceded more (15).
“We will fix that, but I’m very pleased; you see the style of the team,” he said. “Proactive, dynamic, and brave, so that’s what I said; I’m really pleased with the performance.”
Ten Hag’s side next travels to Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.
