Erik ten Hag pays huge compliment to Newcastle after Man United draw

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Newcastle United have been described as ‘maybe the best physical team’ in the Premier League by Erik ten Hag.

This came after the Magpies held Ten Hag’s side to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, in a game that Newcastle could have won.

Eddie Howe’s side were exceptional in the first half. Our intensity was spot on from the first minute, and we had some excellent opportunities to find the net.

The best fell to Joelinton, who hit the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds with his head. He should have scored, and left David De Gea a very relieved man.

In the second half, Newcastle had to do a lot of defending. But they answered all of the questions Manchester United asked of them, and were well worthy of a point.

It was a spirited performance from Howe’s men, and Ten Hag has paid tribute to the Magpies after the game.

Ten Hag’s kind words on Newcastle

The Dutchman spoke to The Athletic after the 0-0 draw, and was full of praise for Newcastle’s physicality.

“You see a physical team as Newcastle; we matched them, at least,” he said.

“In the end, we could have won and we deserved to win.

“It’s a big compliment to the team that we could deserve this with a physical performance against maybe the best physical team in the league. When you can deliver this, you keep going.”

Only one thing Ten Hag is wrong about

Ten Hag’s words on Newcastle’s physicality are very kind. It’s a testament to the work put in by Howe and the way his players have responded.

The Magpies are not a soft touch. We will match teams all over the pitch, no matter their size. We have proven this season that we can give the top teams a game.

However, there is one thing Ten Hag is wrong about. For him to say that Manchester United deserved to win is very wide of the mark.

Yes, they had the better of the second half, but the first half was completely ours. And if we had received the penalty that should have been awarded early on, it would have been a very different game.

In the end, a draw was a fair result. Newcastle faded towards the end, and our lack of depth was clear for all to see. But we got the point our performance deserved. And that’s all Man United deserved as well.