Christian Eriksen reveals ‘difficult’ Manchester United problem

Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen says the rate at which the team concede goals makes it difficult to control games.

Under Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils have had their worst start to a season in 37 years, and his job has come under growing scrutiny in recent weeks. United’s current record deteriorated further in midweek, with their Champions League defeat to Galatasaray.

Rasmus Hojlund gave Manchester United the lead twice at Old Trafford, only for the Turkish champions to respond virtually immediately on both occasions. Mauro Icardi then scored a late victory for Galatasaray, leaving United scoreless after two games in Group A.

United have been one of the teams with a poor defensive record this season in the Premier League, where they have lost four of their first seven games. Eriksen is adamant that a lack of focus in key situations has had a role to play.

“I think we had some good spells in the game, but at the moment when we go ahead, we always seem to concede shortly after,” the Danish midfielder told TNT Sports on Tuesday night. “Of course, that makes it very difficult for us to keep control of the game and that’s something that we have to change very quickly.

“I don’t think it’s the confidence, it’s more the lack of awareness and sharpness to really keep ourselves in form and stay ahead twice – we shouldn’t be throwing that away and we’ve done that in other games this season. So I don’t think it’s a lack of confidence, we’re just making the wrong decisions at the wrong times and it’s costing us.”

United face Brentford in their next game on Saturday hoping to bounce back to winning ways.