ERIKSEN ADMITS TWENTE 'WANTED IT MORE'
Christian Eriksen has made a blunt admission, saying that FC Twente “wanted it more” than Manchester United in their Europa League clash on Wednesday night. Despite manager Erik ten Hag fielding a strong team with only three changes from the side that faced Crystal Palace over the weekend, United failed to secure a win, settling for a disappointing 1-1 draw.
From the start, Marcus Rashford looked sharp on the left wing, but it was Eriksen who provided the breakthrough in the 35th minute.
The Danish midfielder, starting his fourth consecutive game, fired United into the lead with a brilliant strike into the top corner, showing his recent form and confidence. His goal was seemingly unstoppable, and everything appeared to be going right for him in recent weeks.
However, Eriksen’s night took a turn in the second half. After losing possession, he was at fault for Sam Lammers' equalizer for Twente, shifting his role from hero to villain within the game. Despite this setback, United had opportunities to reclaim their advantage, but multiple changes by Ten Hag failed to produce the desired impact. Harry Maguire's late header in added time was United's final chance, but it was not enough to secure the win.
Twente’s players celebrated at the final whistle as though they had clinched a victory, and for United, the draw felt like a loss, especially considering their comfortable control at 1-0 up. The sense of disappointment was palpable among the United players and fans alike.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Eriksen surprisingly admitted that Twente's players showed more desire on the pitch. "We wanted more, but in the end, it was far from good enough and we said in the changing room that it looked like they wanted it more, and that can't be right," he revealed.
Reflecting on his own performance, Eriksen added, "I think personally, you score a goal and think you're a matchwinner, but obviously it's gone the other way. Everyone is looking at themselves. Everyone is a professional footballer. They know what to do, what can't happen, and in a game like today, we didn't lose, but it felt like a loss. Against FC Twente at home, that can't happen."
Eriksen's candid assessment echoes a broader concern about United's performance. The team showed early promise but allowed the opposition to gain momentum, raising questions about their mentality and ability to maintain control throughout the match. Despite the setback, the squad will be looking to learn from this experience and reignite their form in the upcoming fixtures.
The result leaves United with plenty of introspection as they look ahead in the Europa League campaign. For Erik ten Hag, the challenge will be to restore the team's competitive edge and ensure they don't repeat the same mistakes.