Harry Maguire believes Manchester United have a problem with belief and mentality after Thursday’s chaotic draw at Porto.
United looked destined for another defeat but Maguire, coming off the bench, equalised deep into stoppage time.
Maguire’s strike earned United a vital point at the Estádio do Dragao but some fans may feel the performance could leave United’s hierarchy with no choice but to part ways with Ten Hag during the international break.
“After every game we analyse and talk. The manager speaks, some officials speak and the players speak as well,” Maguire told ยูฟ่าเบท Sports.
“It’s normal and I’ve spoken in the dressing room many times about where you can do better.
“I think when you’re 2-0 up away from home at a stadium like this you have to be a bit more stable and confident. There were too many spaces and crosses into the box. “I thought there
were five or six dangerous balls in the first half into the box and they punished us for that. We played really well on the ball in the first half. It ’s just terrible without the ball.
“I think it’s more of a mental issue [conceding consecutive goals] and it’s something we have to overcome. It probably starts with the belief. When we’re 2-0 up and we concede, that belief affects the players a little bit that we can go on and win the game, so it’s something we have to be aware of. “
We have to make sure when we concede goals we come together and regroup because that’s part of football. You can talk about leadership but it’s easy for anyone to say.
“The players on the pitch have to realise this is happening too often and it’s something we have to re-focus on, re-focus and go back to the game plan that put us in the lead in the first place. “
It’s something we have to improve if we are to be successful this season. We can’t concede two goals in a few minutes like we conceded tonight.”