Erik ten Hag accused his Manchester United players of believing “90 percent is enough” after allowing a two-goal lead to slip in Thursday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.
United raced into a 2-0 lead at the break through stellar goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, but Spurs rallied to earn a deserved point after Pedro Porro and Son Heung-Min struck in the second half.
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Ten Hag’s side wilted as the game wore on, perhaps in part due to playing 120 minutes in Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal penalty shootout win over Brighton — the latest physically draining encounter in a long season across four competitions.
United remain in fourth place, six points clear of Spurs with two games in hand, but Ten Hag said: “We have had the worst schedule in the Premier League. That will not change. Also a recovery period so we have to take that. It cannot be an excuse.
“The time is enough to recover so our players are in demand to be ready, and today we were not ready. Some thought 90 percent is enough. If we lose focus, that’s why we gave balls away, we didn’t do our jobs in position and then you concede goals. In both goals, it was the case. But more, you lose control of the game.