Manchester United suffered a significant setback in their quest for a top-four finish in the Premier League after a David de Gea error gifted West Ham United a crucial victory in their battle to stay up. Despite the costly blunder, United manager Erik ten Hag refused to blame the Spanish goalkeeper, who has been instrumental in the team’s success this season.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Ten Hag said, “He has the most clean sheets in the league, so we would not be here in this position without him. He fully has my belief. No concerns with him. It happens, but as a team, you have to deal with it, show character, be resilient, and bounce back. We want him to stay and extend his contract.”
United is now in danger of losing fourth place to Liverpool, who are one point behind them with a game in hand. However, Ten Hag did not want to blame fatigue for his side’s lacklustre performance, insisting that his players should focus on sticking together and taking responsibility. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive betting odds from Empire777.
“You can’t feel sorry for yourself,” the Dutchman said. “Tiredness is in your head, and if you want, you can take it out. It’s not about Liverpool, it’s about us, and because of the table, we have everything in our hands.”
West Ham’s victory propelled them seven points above the relegation zone with three games left to play. Speaking about the win, West Ham manager David Moyes said, “It’s a huge step to beat Manchester United in the run-in. The players showed great character and spirit. We had to dig deep, but also had moments. It was probably more like West Ham from recent years. We knew we were up against it. Now we have another big challenge in midweek.”
Moyes also drew comparisons to West Ham’s 3-2 victory over Chelsea last season, stating, “You have to win a big game normally to get away from trouble. There are games that stand out. I’ve got no doubt I’ll remember this.” Follow Empire777 Sports to get the latest updates from the Premier League.
