Soccer Football - Europa League - FC Porto v Manchester United - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - October 3, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
(Reuters) - Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag stressed the need for patience after his team salvaged a 3-3 draw at Porto with a last-gasp equaliser in the Europa League on Thursday.
United took a commanding 2-0 lead with strikes by Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund, only to concede three goals before Harry Maguire earned a point with a stoppage-time header.
United, now winless in their last five matches in European competition, sit 13th in the Premier League table after a poor start to the season.
"I don't judge us in this moment. I judge us at the end of the season. We are in the process. Just wait. We have to develop this team. We will work and continue. We will fight," Ten Hag told TNT Sports.
"You see the spirit and the connection between the staff and the team. The players are together, they have a strong spirit and they want to achieve. We have a good mentality but in some defending parts we have to step up."
United were on the defensive for much of the match and their captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off for the second game in a row.
"We started the game very good, we dominated, scored two goals then we lost control," Ten Hag said.
"It's a tough place to go, we're coming back from 3-2 and get the equaliser. The team has a strong character, but the middle part we have to improve."
Maguire said Ten Hag knew how to handle the situation.
"I've played for this club for six years, I know how it works. When you go on a bad spell players come under pressure and also the manager does," he said.
"He's experienced enough and been at this club long enough so I'm sure he knows how to deal with it. It's part of the privilege you have playing for this club."
United travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday before the international break.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk, editing by Ed Osmond)
