Man Utd 0-3 Newcastle: Erik ten Hag vows to 'fight on' but 'questions' grow for Reds boss
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says the club is "in a bad place" but that he still believes he is the right man to stop the downward spiral at Old Trafford.
Newcastle's 3-0 EFL Cup win was their biggest away success over Manchester United in 93 years. It condemned the Reds to their eighth defeat in 15 matches, their worst start to a season since 1962-63.
Coming off the back of Sunday's Manchester derby defeat by City, it was the first time United have lost successive home games by three goals or more since October 1962. They have lost five of their first 10 home games for the first time since 1930-31.
The series of unhappy statistics were accompanied by boos at half-time and the final whistle, just as on Sunday, and bring increased speculation about whether Ten Hag is the right man for the job.
"I understand when the results are not there it is logical they are questioning that," he said.
"But I am confident I can do it. At this moment we are in a bad place and I take responsibility for it.
"But I am a fighter. I see it as a challenge."
First-half goals from Miguel Almiron and Lewis Hall put Newcastle in command then, after a brief rally at the start of the second-half, Joe Willock sealed the win with a well-taken third on the hour.
The home side only managed two shots on target and wasted their best chance in the first-half when Anthony Martial appeared to duck out of a header, despite being in a central position just six yards out.
"It is below the standards everyone expects from Manchester United," said Ten Hag. "It is not good enough by far and we have to put it right.
"I take responsibility for it. It is my team and they are not performing."
Ten Hag confirmed Brazilian midfielder Casemiro will miss the Saturday lunchtime Premier League encounter with Fulham after suffering an injury during the first-half of his return after a three-game absence.
"We have a lot of setbacks this season so far, but that is never an excuse, you have to get results in," he said. "Obviously, Sunday and tonight were far from that."
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'Questions about the manager' - pundits react
United have lost five of their first 10 games at home for the first time since 1930-31, having lost just once at home in the Premier League last season - winning 15 of 18.
Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole, speaking on Sky Sports, said: "People now come to Old Trafford thinking they can beat Man Utd.
"There are going to be questions about the manager, Man Utd were really poor. The players need to take a good look at themselves.
"When you see performances like this, you have to ask 'what is going on here?'
"If he doesn't get results in the next couple of games, fans' attitudes towards Ten Hag can change very quickly."
Ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given claimed "it feels there is a divide between the players and the manager" and added "there appears to be a real fallout behind the scenes".
"The players have to take responsibility but it seems at the end of a manager's tether, there is a disconnect," he continued.
"He has spent £411m and that is his team. Where do they go from here? Do the board and directors have a lot of thinking to do?
"I think they will be. It is not good enough for a club this size and the manager has to take the final flak."
Ex-United captain Gary Neville was similarly unimpressed.
"Man Utd players were complaining to the ref, whinging, and while they were whinging Newcastle were attacking. It is schoolboy stuff, under-9s," he said.
"Man Utd fans were probably expecting what they are seeing. Every team that came here this season should have got something.
"I don't know where he starts picking a side next, as none of them can really say they deserve to play.
"We are seeing a repeat of United losing their discipline, not passion - it is petulance. It is like a bunch of kids on the schoolyard."
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