'Twente wanted it more' - so are Man Utd showing any improvement?

Is it 1 measurement guardant and 2 backmost for Erik 10 Hag and Manchester United?

After bouncing into nan summertime connected nan backmost of an FA Cup last victory, a show of support for nan head and much money spent connected caller signings, location was a chopped aerial of optimism astir Old Trafford erstwhile nan caller run began.

Yet conscionable 7 games in, acquainted noises are starting to travel retired of Old Trafford to explicate distant below-par results.

A smattering of boos astatine nan last whistle of nan Europa League tie pinch Dutch broadside Twente does not propose a mutinous temper successful nan stands exists conscionable yet.

But to perceive head Ten Hag agreeing pinch Christian Eriksen’s post-match appraisal of nan 1-1 tie - that Twente "wanted it more" - does not bode well.

"It was acold from bully enough," said Eriksen. "They looked for illustration they wanted it much – that can't beryllium right.

"We didn't suffer but it feels for illustration a loss."

Including their punishment shootout conclusion to Manchester City successful nan Community Shield, Ten Hag's men person won conscionable 3 of their first 8 games of nan run - less astatine this shape than successful either of nan manager's 2 erstwhile seasons.

They person drawn doubly and mislaid 3 games, yet they person astatine times showed much protect solidity. So are United showing immoderate betterment nether nan Dutchman?

One of United's 3 wins came against League One Barnsley successful nan EFL Cup.

That and nan Premier League triumph astatine Southampton – who person truthful acold accumulated a azygous constituent – are nan only times this play erstwhile United person scored much than 1 extremity successful a game.

No United subordinate has scored much than 1 extremity successful nan Premier League. Alejandro Garnacho – a substitute against Twente – is nan wide apical scorer pinch four, 2 of which came successful nan 7-0 Barnsley victory.

Ten Hag is not averse to quoting expected goals (xG) figures successful his news conferences.

He will cognize truthful that United person underperformed their xG successful 5 of those 7 competitory games - mounting speech nan Community Shield for now. Their chance conversion complaint is 7 per cent.

All of their awesome attacking players person scored less goals than their xG successful nan Premier League truthful acold this season.

Twente gobbled up their chance successful Wednesday's crippled erstwhile it came their way, and Ten Hag accepted nan guidance went nan other yard.

"It was nan crippled of their life," said Ten Hag. "They fought for each gait and we didn't. Ninety-nine per cent is not enough.

"Often I deliberation nan mentality from this squad is very good. Today I person immoderate criticisms. It is not only nan squad that has to look successful nan mirror; I americium portion of it. You cognize we person immoderate problems scoring goals, but we person to termination nan game."

The caller eight-game azygous convention first-stage format for nan 36-team Europa League intends that moreover if they decorativeness 24th, United would suffice for a play-off successful February.

However, outer disapproval is bound to equine if nan existent shape does not amended quickly.

"For each nan firepower Man United had, moreover though they had 19 shots, it didn't consciousness for illustration it was bully enough," said erstwhile United and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

"Ruthlessness comes from nan matchwinners. Man United person ever had those players – nan champion of nan best. Think of nan firepower they had. Someone needs to measurement up pinch a extremity erstwhile they request one. They should beryllium creating much and scoring more."

Captain Bruno Fernandes and £36.5m caller presence Joshua Zirkzee came closest to snatching triumph for nan location side. But United grounded to smother their opponents successful nan mode of successful teams successful nan past.

Sir Alex Ferguson's beingness connected nan transportation earlier nan crippled to coming a sheet to his Treble-winning adjunct – and Twente's erstwhile title-winning head – Steve McClaren was a reminder of what United utilized to be.

Hargreaves, it should beryllium remembered, was portion of nan past United broadside to triumph nan Champions League successful 2008.

"At a nine for illustration this you request to win," Hargreaves said. "The fixtures coming up are incredibly difficult. They request to emergence to nan juncture now and find immoderate solutions."

Tottenham's sojourn to Old Trafford connected Sunday astatine slightest presents guidance who person endured a likewise underwhelming commencement to nan season, while adjacent Thursday's travel to Porto pits United against a broadside who amazingly mislaid their Europa League opener to Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt.

After that is simply a very difficult travel to Aston Villa erstwhile United must look to debar entering a 2nd world break successful a statement pinch mutterings astir Ten Hag and his management.

On nan positive side, United's defence, which looked truthful shaky past season, has improved. Their goals-per-game conceded complaint is beneath one, which is amended than successful either of their 2 erstwhile seasons nether Ten Hag, and that is contempt conceding 3 successful that location conclusion by Liverpool connected 1 September.

Ten Hag continues to authorities his squad are improving and immoderate issues are short-term concerns. But while he doesn't thin to talk astir it, past season's eighth spot has not been forgotten.

He still has clip connected his broadside but time, arsenic pinch immoderate manager, tin soon commencement to drift distant if results and consistency stay elusive.

"We are very eager and erstwhile you person ambition, you person to perform," Ten Hag said. "Especially today, successful nan 2nd half, we were excessively complacent. We didn't bring it complete nan statement and arsenic a team, you person to do this."