Manchester United defender Jonny Evans is looking at the opportunities ahead, as the Reds look to move on from our home derby defeat to City.
Erik ten Hag’s side were beaten 3-0 in the Premier League, after goals from Erling Haaland either side of half time were followed by a Phil Foden strike.
The Reds will now get ready for our last-16 Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle United back at Old Trafford on Wednesday, in a repeat of last season’s final, and Evans is hoping the return of injured players can give the squad a boost.
“It’s never easy,” Evans told MUTV about the derby defeat. “Everyone’s disappointed. You wish you could turn back the clock, but you know we’ve got to move on now.”
He added: “At this club that’s what it’s all about, you’ve got to [move on]. We’ll be preparing for the next game now and making sure preparations are ready.
“I think we’ve been disrupted with a lot of injuries this season in terms of key personnel. Probably a lot of our starting players would be, you know, they’re missing. I think the manager’s found out difficulties having to sort of work on team, on tactics and having to change the personnel quite a lot with only two days in between games.
“So that’s been difficult, hopefully we can get more players back and get a real sort of opportunity to create freshness within the playing squad.”
Speaking candidly about the defeat to City, the Northern Irishman said: “We’re disappointed obviously the result coming in and you know we put a lot into the second half to get back and you know 2-0, maybe the chance with Rashy we sort of get back in it.
“But you know [it’s] probably disappointing that we didn’t create too much in the second half.”
The first goal of the match came from the penalty spot after a VAR intervention, with Rasmus Hojlund adjudged to have pulled down Rodri in the box, a decision which Evans says surprised him.
“I think you see that a lot in the box and I don’t think he, Rasmus, is in a position to sort of - didn’t look like he had a hold on his shirt or anything,” he said.
“He’s only got one arm on him, which you see defenders using a lot. So it’s quite disappointing from the good of the VAR, be sent to the VAR and be put in a position where he’s been told he’s made a clear and obvious error.
“Like I say the referee, he’s in a difficult position then and he’s almost got to give the decision.”
