Telling it straight: Ten Hag says 'it is obvious' why United signed a striker after Spurs loss

Erik ten Hag cut a frustrated figure after Manchester United suffered a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham and insisted their wasteful display showed why Rasmus Hojlund was signed.

Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag is shown a yellow card by English referee Michael Oliver at the end of the English Premier League football match against Tottenham Hotspur.Erik ten Hag frustrated after Manchester United's 2-0 loss to Tottenham; highlights importance of signing Rasmus Hojlund.

United missed chances, with Sarr and Martinez scoring for Spurs; Tottenham's improved display led by Ange Postecoglou. Ten Hag points to Hojlund's absence and upcoming return of Martial; Maguire's minor injury and uncertain roles affect squad selection. Erik ten Hag appeared visibly frustrated following Manchester United's 2-0 defeat against Tottenham, emphasizing that their wasteful performance highlighted the significance of signing Rasmus Hojlund. The Red Devils suffered a defeat in the capital on Saturday night as Pape Sarr slotted home the opening goal in the 49th minute, followed by Lisandro Martinez accidentally deflecting the ball into his own net late in the game. United could have easily taken the lead by this point, with Marcus Rashford denied by Guglielmo Vicario and Bruno Fernandes heading wide from six yards. Additionally, Antony's shot curled against the post moments after Sarr's goal. Tottenham also created numerous opportunities in the first half, but their performance escalated after halftime, securing a maiden Premier League victory for their new head coach, Ange Postecoglou. This outcome led United to ponder missed opportunities. Ten Hag, who witnessed their nerve-wracking 1-0 win over Wolves on Monday, pointed to the injured £64 million forward Hojlund as a reason for optimism. "Today, you witnessed a strong first-half performance, but it's imperative to comprehend the need to score a goal," he insisted. "Due to the significance of the opening goal, the players need to shoulder responsibility. They must maintain focus, passion, and desire in this critical moment to maintain a clear perspective and score the initial goal. "It's a matter of belief, and we believe in these players based on last year's performance as well. They have the ability to score goals. "However, the reason for signing a striker is evident. If all goes well, Martial is on his way back, and Hojlund is approaching. Consequently, we will have more players capable of scoring goals. Nevertheless, the players on the field are also capable of scoring." Hojlund, who joined from Atalanta in a deal that could potentially amount to £72 million, is presently absent due to a back injury and was unavailable for the clash against Spurs. With Harry Maguire nursing a minor injury, Ten Hag listed two goalkeepers on the bench. Brandon Williams and Donny van de Beek were also not considered due to uncertainties regarding their future roles. He added:"During yesterday's final training, H was unavailable due to a minor issue. While everything can change after September 1, we require players who are fully committed to the team mentally. "I won't assert that the players you mentioned aren't committed, but it's evident that they are currently seeking something different. "Nonetheless, whenever they are present, they consistently give their best effort in every training session." In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed.

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