Senne Lammens has revealed Michael Carrick has been "hammering" Manchester United's players to defend as a team and stop crosses.
United were on course to secure a much-needed victory against Spurs on Saturday, but the away side scored an equaliser in added time to leave Old Trafford with a point, despite competing with 10 men in the closing stages.
Costly Late Equaliser
Sandro Tonali was given space to send a cross into the box, but defender Lisandro Martinez was more concerned with grappling with Dominic Solanke than focusing on the ball, which allowed the striker to win the header.
Although Bryan Mbeumo was responsible for marking Tonali, Martinez should have done better when the cross was sent into the box.
The goal meant United dropped another two points, but the Reds would have been fortunate to have won the game considering Tottenham created several golden opportunities before Mbeumo's goal.
Lammens' Disappointment
"It's very disappointing," Lammens told reporters. "Because you find a way to get the game, to get the advantage, to score a goal, to get one-nil up against ten men, so that's the position you want to be in."
"So it's very disappointing to get the last goal against us at the end. We need to learn from it a lot, because these are the games you have to try to pull towards yourself. To win these games is very important if you want to have a good season, so it's very important for us to learn from this and to move on, to get these games behind us."
United have taken just six points from six Premier League games.
Defensive Focus
"I think points say one thing, which is very important, like you say, because we are a team that wants to play at the top of the league, but it's not the only thing," said Lammens.
"Playing-wise, we do some things well, but I think defensively, we can be a bit better, a bit more solid. Today was better, because in the first half it was a bit more difficult, but you survive, you keep it as zero, and then you can be able to pull those games towards yourself."
"So yeah, it's like you said, it's a bit like that feeling last season where maybe we didn't have our A-game, but we still were able to pull those games out and win those games, where this feeling is like, you feel like you play better, but you don't really get the wins you deserve."
"It's kind of a mix of both. You both want to play good and also be able to pull the games where maybe you don't have your A-game."
When asked about the side's defensive record this season, Lammens revealed Carrick has been 'hammering' the players to defend better. "I think sometimes in the end it comes down to maybe here and there, maybe a mistake from someone, but it doesn't really start with that," he said.
"I think it's a team thing. The manager has been hammering a lot about defending as a team, being able to put pressure on the opposition team, especially on the crosses."
"And I think today was better, but then you see in the end, one good cross and one good header, and you can lose the game like that, or the win can go away like that."
"So I get what you're saying, but I think we've been trying to make a difference there, and I think it's been better already, but yeah, it's a pity that today, especially in the end like that, the win slipped away from us."
Lammens also denied there was a miscommunication between himself and Martinez for Solanke's goal. "I didn't see it back yet, but I think there wasn't really a miscommunication, I think," he said.
"First of all, I think the cross needs to be stopped. We need to put more pressure on the guy with the ball, because his cross is too easy. And then I think, yeah, it's a bit of a struggle, bit of push and pull between the attacker and Licha. And yeah, I think he got away with it. But I don't think there was a miscommunication, no."
