Erik ten Hag admitted Manchester United “should have done better” as they limply exited Europe at Old Trafford on Tuesday night – but Paul Scholes disagreed with the manager’s assessment of their 1-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich. United’s 12th loss of the season left them rooted to the bottom of Group A in the Champions League.
They crash out of the competition without even the consolation of a place in the Europa League after collecting a mere four points from an available 18. They only managed victory at home to Copenhagen, losing away at the Danish side as well as at home to Galatasaray. They fell to defeat home and away against Bayern.
“We had the opportunities in games. We were in winning positions and scored many goals but we gave it away sometimes by individual errors by different players,” said United manager Ten Hag. “We have to do better. The facts are we don’t have enough points so we are disappointed as a group.
“We should have done better. We didn’t create many chances tonight but that also has to do with a very good opponent. We didn’t lose it today, that’s clear.”
Ten Hag’s insistence that it was a “very good” performance did not wash with from former United ace Scholes. “I think it was a frightened performance more than anything. There was such a lack of goal threat,” said Scholes on TNT Sports.
“I think Bayern had another four or five gears to go through tonight and if they really fancied it, they could’ve really gone for it and scored a few more goals. It’s a big concern where the goals are going to come from [for United].”
To add to their woes, United lost England defenders Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire, the Premier League Player of the Month for November, with a groin injury. Kingsley Coman’s 71st-minute winner, set up by Harry Kane, brought victory at a stroll for the German champions, who had already qualified for the last 16.
“I felt like we controlled the game and had the better chances. We were calm and we knew in the quick transitions we could hurt them,” said Kane. ”It is always tough when you are top and through already but we had a good motivation. It was nice to get the win today.
“We’ve had a good start to the season but I feel like there are a few more gears to go up. We have enough ability to go far in this competition. That is the ambition, to go and win the Champions League.”
