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theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7783 7435 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2624/5 Email: [email protected] • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Fax: 03-7784 4424 Email: [email protected] or download app from the App Store or Google PlayTM . Read iPaper at www.thesundaily.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download SCAN ME THURSDAY • OCTOBER 5, 2023 Desperate mess Ten Hag vows to fight on ‘together’ after United suffer another home defeat UNDER-PRESSURE Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is not worried about losing his job after his side’s horror start to the season continued with a Champions League home defeat to Galatasaray. The Red Devils threw away a 2-1 lead to fall to a 3-2 loss at a rainsoaked Old Trafford and suffer their worst start to a season since 1986. They have lost six of their opening 10 games for the first time in 37 years and their chances of getting out of the group stages already look in doubt after just two matches. But Ten Hag, who says there are “no excuses” for his side’s dismal performances, insist everyone at the club is pulling in the same direction. Asked whether he feared for his job, the Dutchman said: “Last season: brilliant, terrific, more than we could expect. “We also knew in this project there would be common gaps. “At this moment we are in a very difficult period as everyone can see but we come out together, we are fighting together, we are sticking together and we are behind each other. That is me, the directors, the team, all together we will fight. “This is not us, we know we have to do better, with togetherness we will come out. “If I give an explanation, then you will see as excuses, there are no excuses. We can’t make the errors we are now making. We have to do better, it is a simple fact, we have to win our games.” United had victory in their own hands after two Rasmus Hojlund goals, either side of former United winger Wilfried Zaha’s leveller, put them on course for a much-needed win. But Kerem Akturkoglu again pegged them back and then a woeful error by Andre Onana set them on a path to self-destruction as his abysmal pass led to Casemiro fouling Dries Mertens in the penalty area and the Brazilian was sent off. Mauro Icardi missed the resulting penalty, but made amends three minutes later as he grabbed the winner and sealed a first ever victory on English soil for the Turkish side. Onana also made a costly gaffe in the Group A opener at Bayern Munich a fortnight ago but Ten Hag, who managed him at Ajax, has backed the Cameroonian to come good. “We are happy with our goalkeeping group, definitely with Andre,” Ten Hag said. “He was in one semifinal of the Champions League, last year he was in the final of the Champions League, he has the capablilties to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world. “He has shown that and he will do. We already have seen in games his great capabilites, also his personality after he made mistakes. He will bounce back and I am sure he will in the coming games as well.” Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand were left furious after United’s shambolic defeat. Scholes singled out Sofyan Amrabat, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof for extra criticism, with all three players failing to stop Akturkoglu from scoring Galatasaray’s second goal of the night. “Amrabat not in his favoured position but he just gets spun, the lad turns him around,” reflected Scholes. “I don’t know where the hell Varane is going, Lindelof just looks lost in the middle, and they were so open in the middle of that defensive area.” Ferdinand, meanwhile, slammed United’s defenders for switching off immediately after the Red Devils had taken the lead on not one, but two occasions. “As a kid, you’re told that you’re the most vulnerable after just scoring and that happened twice tonight, we fell asleep,” he said. “At times, it looked far too easy and they went through us like a hot knife through butter and it’s embarrassing. “This is the Champions League, it’s not school football or anything. The lack of positional awareness, spacial awareness. At this level you’ll be punished for that and they were tonight.” – The Independent/ Express Newspapers MIKEL ARTETA defended his decision to play Bukayo Saka as the Arsenal winger limped out of their Champions League defeat to Lens. The Gunners had taken the lead through Gabriel Jesus but Adrien Thomasson levelled following a David Raya error before Saka hobbled out of the game. Lens would go on to win 2-1 courtesy of a second-half strike from Elye Wahi but it was the injury to Saka that will have concerned Arteta more. Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City visit the Emirates Stadiumon Sunday and Saka’s involvement is now in doubt with the England forward having been forced off in the last three games. Asked if he regretted picking Saka following his issues against both Tottenham and Bournemouth, Arteta replied: “No. It was a knock that he had the other day and he was perfectly fine. It was a back-heel, an action that can produce that kind of injury. “Let’s see what the extent of it is and afterwards it’s too late. The last few were more knocks than anything else. “He hasn’t really missed games. We gave him a break against Brentford (in the Carabao Cup) last week and that was all. “He tried to backheel a ball in the first half and felt something muscular. He felt uncomfortable to carry on so we had to take him off. “We don’t know anything more. It was big enough not to allow him to continue to play the game and that’s a worry for us. “He was really looking forward to playing like every player. It was a big Champions League night. I painted a picture and the type of scenario we were going to face today and they all knew about it. “But this Champions League is so difficult to win away from home. Today we take a big lesson.” The defeat ended a forgettable 24 hours for Arsenal after bad weather grounded Arteta and his players at Luton airport for five hours on Monday as their journey to France was delayed. Now their hopes of avoiding a bumpy ride in qualifying for the knockout stages have also suffered a setback after a turbulent night at a rocking Stade Bollaert-Delelis. “No, let’s not put excuses,” Arteta said when asked if the preparations for the game had impacted on a poor team performance. “First of all, congratulations to Lens. They are a really good side. Really well coached. We knew it was going to be a really tough match. “In the boxes we had four or five chances we didn’t put away and we didn’t defend the boxes well enough. “It’s true there were moments in the second half we struggled to be more threatening in the final third and find spaces. “They defended with those numbers really good. That’s something to take for the next game.” Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice speaking to TNT Sports added: “I feel we created enough to win the game, for sure. “I thought we totally dominated the match but they are not an easy opponent. We had to be on it but it was just that final bit that was lacking. “Credit to them. They defended very well and some of their centrebacks had some outstanding performances. Lens had started the season slowly but won their two Ligue 1 games leading into a first Champions League home game in 21 years and defender Kevin Danso was delighted with the outcome. “We gave it our all today in front of our own fans,” he said. “It was a difficult game, Arsenal had a lot of quality and made us sit back really deep, but we kept defending and kept our concentration. Luckily we won the game. “At home we know how strong we are, in front of our fans. That’s what we always try to do: win at home. I’m a bit gutted about the clean sheet, but we’ll take the three points definitely.” – The Independent Arteta defends Saka selection as Lens come from behind to stun Gunners Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund (centre) scores their second goal past Galatasaray keeper Fernando Muslera. – REUTERSPIX