Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag slammed his players after their 2-1 loss against Nottm Forest at City Ground on Saturday. The Red Devils haven’t been able to bring their best in the ongoing season and their season is reaching new lows every weekend.

The Dutchman admitted they lost in the first half as they were not up to the mark. Nicolas Dominguez opened the scoring for the home team in the 64th minute but United was able to equalize as Marcus Rashford scored in the 78th minute.

However, Morgan Gibbs-White scored the winner for the visitors in the 82nd minute.

“It’s disappointing. The loss was unnecessary. We lost it in the first half. We weren’t energised enough or invested enough,” Ten Hag said.

“We should invest more in the first half. In the second we were better. In the first half we should have created some moments and we didn’t.

“We know these results are below our standards The players are not happy with this but we have to do better.”

Meanwhile, United has lost nine of its opening 20 league games for the first time since 1989-90. Furthermore, they have managed a solitary win in their last five matches, losing three games and drawing one. Moreover, they have suffered 14 losses across all competitions. Ten Hag blamed the injuries to key players for their disastrous start.

“The injuries. Also some issues but mainly the injuries hold us back in the process. In January we have a lot of players returning so then our levels can be higher,” he said.

“We had to change again so every time we have to swap our team. That doesn’t help or support the routines of the team and it explains why you are so inconsistent.

“We had nine different partnerships in the back. It doesn’t matter as well, the fans don’t want to hear this, they want to see us winning and that is what we have to serve them.”

Manchester United will take on Wigan Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup on 9th January.