Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has conceded that his players 'lacked character and passion' during their Europa League exit to Sevilla.
The Red Devils visited Estadio Ramon for the second leg of their quarter-final on Thursday evening, with the tie delicately poised following a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Old Trafford.
However, Sevilla proved to be far too strong for the 20-time English champions on the night, with Youssef En-Nesyri netting a brace and Loic Bade also registering in a 3-0 home success.
Sevilla also had a first-half goal disallowed for offside during a dominant performance, with Man United struggling to get going for the majority of the contest.
Ten Hag said that 'a lack of character' rather than "playing skills" contributed to his side being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the competition in comfortable fashion.
© Reuters
"I have to acknowledge, it's the truth (Sevilla had more fight). It's hard, it's tough, but it's the truth. It can't be. It's unacceptable," Ten Hag told reporters during his post-match press conference.
"I think we showed in the past we can bounce really quickly back. We did it many times now this season, what we have to learn is to start games better, with more desire, pressing, more composure on the ball. When you get a setback, you have to deal with it, and carry on.
"Yes, it's the truth, that we have to be better. It's not about playing skills, it's about character. So be composed and have desire and passion. They had more willingness to win; it can't be. I think that's unacceptable."
Man United will now be bidding to bounce back from the disappointing defeat when they take on Brighton & Hove Albion in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.
"I already started [trying] but we have to pick them up, but also we have to face that we let ourselves down and we let the fans down," Ten Hag added. "If you want to win trophies, if you want to be successful, you need all of the character.
© Reuters
"Sunday, we showed we can do it, we have seen against [Nottingham] Forest. We were composed, we had the desire and, today, we didn't.
"You can expect from a player at Manchester United, from a team like Manchester United, that they do it consistently. Now isn't too often [it happens] but, we have a really poor performance and it can't be."
Meanwhile, in a separate interview with MUTV, the Dutchman added: "We know that [it is a huge game vs. Brighton] and that is what we just told [the players] in the dressing room.
"We know what to do and we need a huge step forward, higher standards, a better performance to beat Brighton, because that's a tough team. It must give energy, that's absolutely clear. But then we need a different performance as we did today."
Man United must now secure a top-four finish in the Premier League table to be present in next season's Champions League, and they are currently third, six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand.
No Data Analysis info
