Unfazed Erik ten Hag ‘convinced’ he’ll get the job done at Manchester United

The Old Trafford giants began the weekend rooted to the bottom of the league table after a 2-1 home defeat by Brighton was compounded by last weekend's 4-0 humiliation at Brentford.

United will attempt to avoid starting a top-flight season with three straight losses for the first time since 1986 when Liverpool come to town on Monday, but early results have not shaken Ten Hag.

"I'm not here for myself," the former Ajax boss said. "I'm here to help the club and to restore the club.

"I knew before this is a challenge and I wanted this challenge. I knew before it was going to be hard but I wanted that because in my career, everywhere I started, the start was difficult.

"But I get it done - and I'm convinced I'll get it done here as well. Therefore I choose this project.

"I knew it's a process and I will stay consistent to the philosophy and to the plan we had, and I keep confidence in the cooperation I have in the players definitely but also the team around, like the coaches and the directors."

Ten Hag said he did not see the requisite attitude and "fighting spirit" from the outset in the humbling at Brentford, leading him to scrap the players' day off last Sunday as they instead did intensive running.

"I took the decision on Saturday, actually during the game, when I saw the performance," he said. "That is not the standard for Man United and actually it's not my standard.

"We have to change that. I have to face the team, the players what the standard is and that we don't accept this."

"(The players' reaction) is not a problem. I hope they are angry but angry with themselves and angry with each other that they didn't take each other in the responsibility.

"When I say it's not acceptable, you cannot deliver for yourself, for the team, for Man United and for all the fans of Man United."