Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag responds after being called out by Patrice Evra

Erik ten Hag responded to claims from Patrice Evra that he was making 'excuses' for a poor performance at Newcastle United on Saturday.

Ten Hag was much more positive after Wednesday's hard-fought 2-1 win at home to Chelsea after seeing Manchester United produce a brilliant performance on their return to Old Trafford. Scott McTominay scored both goals for United, while the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Sofyan Amrabat and Antony were also excellent.

It was a far cry from the dismal defeat at St James' Park just a few days prior and Ten Hag attempted to explain the difference. He suggested that United's midweek European commitments affected their preparations for the weekend but Evra called him out.

RATINGS: McTominay and Garnacho good vs Chelsea

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“I know you’re protecting your players but we really feel against Newcastle - Newcastle are also playing in the Champions League against PSG," Evra told Amazon Prime Video while on punditry duty for Wednesday's match. “So I think saying they were a little bit tired is not an excuse and tonight and I know you won’t comment about it but the players that were on the pitch all of them were like dying for the badge. They were playing as a team.

“I think the start today was a team. It wasn’t one player even McTominay wins man-of-the-match. But I just saw the starting XI, they were the players and were determined to win and forgive what happened against Newcastle.”

Newcastle did enjoy an extra day's rest compared to United but, amid ingoing injury issues, Eddie Howe made no substitutions in a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain and then started exactly the same team on Saturday. United were able to make