Manchester United’s struggles continued on Saturday as they let a late lead slip against relegation battlers Burnley.
The Red Devils looked to have snatched all three points thanks to a 79th-minute strike by Antony, but a penalty conceded by Andre Onana eight minutes later saw the Clarets snatch a dramatic equalizer.
This latest disappointment comes on the back of a string of dropped points and leaves United scrapping for Europa League qualification.
The mood at Old Trafford was far from happy, with boos greeting the final whistle and even louder ones ringing out when Ten Hag opted to substitute youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund.
The United boss defended his decision, insisting that protecting his young players from injury is a priority.
Ten Hag acknowledged the frustration of the fans but pleaded for patience, urging them to remember that building a successful team takes time.
“Sorry for everyone. I am very impatient, but there we need patience, and fans also need patience. We built here a team, and they need experience.”
He compared United’s current struggles to the early days of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign, reminding everyone that even great teams need time to gel.
“The great Manchester United team, we forget they were also built. I have seen I think in 2004/05, they also didn’t play that great football.”
“They were building, and it takes time, but everyone forgets, even the players who were by that time in the team, they forget they were struggling and that they needed time to progress.”
The Dutchman remains confident that the benefits of this challenging season will be reaped in the years to come.
