Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has highlighted the need for his team to maintain their focus until the final whistle following their 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. United conceded a late goal in stoppage time at the Amex Stadium, with Brighton's Joao Pedro scoring the decisive goal after Danny Welbeck had earlier given Brighton the lead against his former club.
Historically known for their late goals, United have now suffered six losses since the 2022-23 season due to goals conceded in or after the 90th minute, making them the most affected team in this regard. Ten Hag emphasized that the team needs to improve its game management and be more resolute in both defensive and attacking situations.
In the match, United had a promising spell at 1-1 and nearly took the lead when Alejandro Garnacho's shot was deflected in by Joshua Zirkzee. However, the goal was disallowed by VAR due to Zirkzee being offside at the time of the deflection. Despite the setback, Ten Hag chose not to blame Zirkzee for the incident, acknowledging that the situation was difficult for the Dutch forward.
Ten Hag expressed frustration over the missed opportunities and the team's failure to secure a positive result. He noted that despite creating numerous chances and showing resilience, the inability to convert those chances and the late goal ultimately led to their defeat. With Liverpool next on the schedule, Ten Hag stressed the need for his team to regroup and improve their performance.
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