Erik ten Hag called the first-half performance by Manchester United’s players “not acceptable” and accused them of “sleeping” during their friendly loss to Cadiz.
In the first of two exhibition games before the season returns in two weeks, United fell to the LaLiga underachievers 4-2 on Wednesday at Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla.
In Spain, the Red Devils fell behind 2-0 after just 14 minutes of play before tying the score on Anthony Martial’s penalty and Kobbie Mainoo’s deflected goal either side of halftime.
However, United, who used different lineups for each half, gave up two more goals, and manager Ten Hag was dissatisfied with what he saw from his experimental side.
“It is quite clear. We were not awake, still sleeping, in first 15 minutes,” he told MUTV. “They are a threat in transition. We have seen, the second goal can’t happen.
“We were not awake in the defence but also in the midfield we got run off. It’s not possible and it’s not acceptable.
“After that, we came into the game and got a penalty. I think it was a clear one and I think maybe the second half we deserved another penalty, but the first one was a clear one.
“We came in the game, but we couldn’t make the equaliser before half-time.”
Ten Hag used the friendly as an opportunity to give some younger players some action since United was missing 15 players who have been or are currently participating in the World Cup.
“They gave energy,” Ten Hag said of the youngsters such as Shola Shoretire and goalscorer Mainoo. “They run; they fight.
“They’re maybe not always in the right organisation, so they make mistakes because they are not used to playing in this level. It was a good lesson.
“You see that if you make small mistakes, they have big consequences and that’s what happened.”
Martial, Scott McTominay, Donny van Beek, Victor Lindelof, and Scott McTominay were among the United players to get the start on Saturday against Real Betis.
Ten Hag said of the game, which was his team’s first outing since defeating Fulham 2-1 on November 13, “We’ve spoken about the game and we’ll do so again tomorrow.”
“Then we have to strike it, draw a line and then move on. It can’t happen in the future. The first 15 minutes cannot happen. That’s not our standard and that should not happen.”
After the World Cup break, United plays Burnley in the EFL Cup round of 16 on December 21 before taking on Nottingham Forest six days later in the Premier League.