Erik ten Hag believes in order for Manchester United to develop into a “really good team” his side will have to cut out what he describes as ‘learning moments’.
The Red Devils have one foot in next month’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley having beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 at The City Ground in last night’s semi-final first leg.
However, Ten Hag’s side were let off the hook in the 23rd minute thanks to VAR, and the complexion of the game could have completely changed had Forest’s equaliser stood.
Danilo intercepted Marcus Rashford’s wayward pass and with one pass into Morgan Gibbs-White, Manchester United’s defence was wide open.
With eight United players caught behind the ball following Rashford’s sloppy moment, Forest had a three on three attacking situation with Brennan Johnson and Sam Surridge running at Casemiro, Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez.
Surridge thought he had drew Steve Cooper’s side level on the night after slotting Gibbs-White’s pass into the far bottom corner past David de Gea.
But Surridge’s strike was ruled out by VAR with Forest’s number 16 adjudged to be offside, which was a massive let off for the Red Devils.
After Rashford’s opener, United put themselves in charge of the tie thanks to a first goal for the Reds from Wout Weghorst and a late strike from Bruno Fernandes.
Erik ten Hag pinpoints where Manchester United can improve after Nottingham Forest win
While Ten Hag was happy to take a commanding lead back to Old Trafford next week, the former Ajax manager felt the performance was “okay” and specifically pinpointed how Surridge’s disallowed goal could have impacted the game.
Speaking via the club’s website, the 52-year-old said: “It was only one moment in the game what could have changed the game and we have to work on that.
“It’s a learning moment, in a way to develop a really good team.
“We allowed them almost to come back in the game and that can’t happen. So, I think it is a learning moment.”
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