Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has refuted Virgil van Dijk’s claim after their goalless stalemate with Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Dutch manager was not in agreement with his compatriot, who said the Reds were the only side that wanted to win the game during his post-match interview.
When asked about the Liverpool captain’s comment, Ten Hag said “that was his opinion” and further added that he was proud of his team for their brave performance at one of the most hostile grounds in Europe.
“That’s his opinion,” Ten Hag said. “I said that after the game in the dressing room, yeah, I’m very proud of this team.
“And we should do this more often. I said this for instance, as Newcastle was also a tough game and there, we made one mistake and you concede a goal.
“But then, you stay in the game and when you’re disciplined in your game plan then finally it’s open, it opens up and then you can take your chances or even and that is I say more now get two, three, four passes in after ball regains and get the switch in and then you can really be more dominant in the game,” he added.
⏹️ A hard-earned point on the road for United.#MUFC || #LIVMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 17, 2023
The Red Devils went into the game as the underdog, having suffered a disappointing 7-0 defeat at the same ground last season. However, Ten Hag’s men put up a solid defensive performance to go along with Andre Onana’s individual brilliance, with the Cameroon international making eight key saves.
Despite going one man down late in the game following the sending off of Portuguese fullback Diogo Dalot, United held on for their first clean sheet in four league games.
Ten Hag’s men drop into seventh in the league standings, and they will visit the London Stadium next to take on West Ham United in Saturday’s early kickoff fixture.
