Ten Hag: I feel really sorry for the fans

Manchester United lost 4-0 to Brentford this afternoon, meaning we have lost our first two games and sit at the very bottom of the Premier League table.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Erik ten Hag spoke about his surprise that his players totally buckled under the pressure and the need for them to have greater belief in their ability.

It was difficult for me. A surprise. I think if in 35 minutes if you concede four goals, it’s not possible, so the team has to take the responsibility. I feel really sorry for the fans. They gave everything to support us and we let them down. I feel really sorry for them. At Man United, we have to serve higher standards that what we did today.

They are good players but they have to take responsibility on the pitch, as a team and as an individual, and that’s what we didn’t do. I asked them to play with belief and take responsibility for the performance and that’s what we didn’t do.

Don’t get me wrong, the manager is responsible as well. He has the main responsibility. I will work on that. I have to give them belief. But they also have to do it themselves.

The first goal came from a horrendous error from David de Gea, which Ten Hag acknowledges, but insists he would still expect his players to do better in response.

It’s about individual mistakes, for both the first and second goal. It cannot happen. He’s a great goalkeeper but the first goal he knows it, that’s clear. But still, you have to stick to the plan and move on. Mistakes are part of football. So you have to keep going, play as a team and act.