Tough taskmaster Erik ten Hag takes aim at 'rubbish' Manchester United first-half display

Manchester United ultimately cruised to victory but Erik ten Hag still fumed at his side's "mess" of a start against Leicester, saying such "rubbish" cannot be repeated as key clashes with Barcelona and Newcastle loom.

A frantic February comes to a conclusion with Thursday’s Europa League knockout play-off second leg against Barca poised at 2-2 before next Sunday’s trip to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final.

United head into those fixtures on the back of a 3-0 triumph against Leicester, but Ten Hag knows the scoreline flatters his side after a ragged start against Brendan Rodgers’ men.

Marcus Rashford scored a brace to take his tally to 24 goals – his most in a single season for his boyhood club – before substitute Jadon Sancho wrapped up a game.

"I was really unhappy with our performance," manager Ten Hag said of the first half.

"We have to follow the rules and principles from our way of playing. When you don’t, it is getting a mess and when you face a good opponent like Leicester is you concede chances.

"It was only due to David de Gea that we don’t concede a goal, so we are really lucky in half-time to be 1-0 up.

"Of course, a great pass by Bruno (Fernandes), great finish Rashy, but for the rest it was rubbish.

"Second half we play like the principles and rules of the game from us, then we transfer the game plan and you see we are dictating the game."

Ten Hag said the players knew at half-time that they had put in a substandard display, praising De Gea for coming up big on his way to equalling Peter Schmeichel’s club record of 180 clean sheets.

"There are moments you need the keeper and he had already many moments in this season when he was so important, that he saves points," the United boss said.

"That’s his job, he knows that