United were eliminated by Middlesbrough after 120 minutes of playing, not only stopping there, but also wasting a lot of the physical strength of the main players. After the game, interim coach Ronnick angrily accused the team of squandering too many opportunities and should have killed the suspense of the game at halftime.
"We were so disappointed, the players, the coaches and everybody, we should have won easily and killed the game in the first half." Lonnick said after the game, "Henry, the uprights, the penalties and many other opportunities. The halftime score should be 3-0 or even 4-0. We started off well and did a great job throughout the first half. The team's running position and rhythm met my expectations. However, if the score is only 1-0, such an accident is likely to happen."
For Middlesbrough's goal, Lonnick also did not understand why the goal after handball was still valid. "We conceded a goal, I don't understand why it worked, the opponent controlled the ball with his hand." The Manchester United boss said, "The moment the opponent scored, we all thought the handball was obvious and VAR would not allow the goal to be valid. I still think that the ball should never work, and it's incredible. Obvious handball, I don't even think there is a need for VAR, the referee can see it himself, and VAR should also intervene. I later heard that the referee and VAR determined that it was unintentional handball, that it was an accident. How could the arm be unintentional with the arm outstretched and the ball hitting the hand? I can't understand it at all."
In fact, according to the new rules of the Premier League this season, the attacking player has no intention of assisting his teammate after handball, and the goal will be judged to be valid. Lonnick also admitted that United's defensive oversight was also a key reason for the loss, with Middlesbrough's crosses, assists and goals all undefended.
"From our point of view, we were in a bad position at that moment, the defensive line was too open and gave the opponents the opportunity to counterattack, which should not have happened, but we should still win the game." Lonnick said.
United's 19-year-old Anthony Erlanga flew the ball off the penalty shootout, but Lonnick insisted his teammates didn't blame him. "You can see that his teammates support him, and everyone is like that. This has happened to players who are more experienced than him. It's a big pity for the whole club, for the fans and for the whole team because we've been doing well in the last two weeks, training well and the first half of this game was excellent, but the result was very disappointing."