Last Updated: November 30, 2023, 13:43 IST
UEFA Champions League: Manchester United’s Andre Onana and Erik Ten Hag (AP)
Andre Onana made mistakes in goal as manager Erik ten Hag said he was responsible for Manchester United throwing away yet another lead.
Hurt by goalkeeper Andre Onana’s mistakes, Manchester United twice wasted two-goal leads to draw 3-3 at Galatasaray in a febrile atmosphere Wednesday in the Champions League to leave its hopes of reaching the round of 16 hanging in the balance.
United was 2-0 ahead after 18 minutes after strikes by Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes and then 3-1 up following a goal by Scott McTominay in the 55th.
At fault for Galatasaray’s first goal by Hakim Ziyech at a free kick, Onana fumbled another set-piece attempt by the winger into his own net to bring the hosts back into it at 3-2 in what proved to be an end-to-end Champions League classic.
Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu then controlled a fine through-ball from Ziyech and powered a rising shot past Onana in the 71st to earn Galatasaray a point that kept the Turkish team a point ahead of United, which remained in last place. FC Copenhagen, which drew 0-0 at already qualified Bayern Munich later Wednesday, is ahead of Galatasaray on goal difference.
United must now beat Bayern and hope the Copenhagen-Galatasaray game played concurrently ends in a draw to advance in second place. Erik ten Hag’s team has dropped eight points from winning positions in the group and conceded 14 goals — already a club record in the competition.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he was responsible for his side throwing away yet another lead. United let a two-goal lead slip in an earlier group game in Copenhagen before losing 4-3 and Ten Hag said their inability to see games out was down to him.
“It’s always me (who is to blame for throwing away leads). I am responsible for this, but also know we are in a project,” the Dutchman told TNT Sports.
“We are in the right direction, so I know where we have to go and which steps we have to take and I’m sure we will be successful in the long term.
“If we want to stay in the Champions League, we have to win the next game.”
Ten Hag was confident they would find a way to stop conceding so many goals.
United have scored the most goals in their group with 12 but are tied with Celtic for the second-worst defensive record in this year’s Champions League, with 14 scored against them.
Only Antwerp in Group H have conceded more (15).
“We will fix that but I’m very pleased, you see the style of the team,” he said. “Proactive, dynamic, brave, so it’s what I said, I’m really pleased with the performance.”
Ten Hag’s side next travel to Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.
(With inputs from Agencies)
