Erik ten Hag is aware that his start as Manchester United boss has been unacceptable and he has now identified when he feels the team's downturn started.
United experienced an enjoyable summer tour of Thailand and Australia, which began with a 4-0 thumping of tonight’s opponents Liverpool in Bangkok. Two more wins against Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace followed in Australia.
However, the win against the Eagles was Ten Hag ’s last. A draw to Aston Villa, a loss to Atletico Madrid and a draw to Rayo Vallecano rounded off pre-season prior to their horrific Premier League defeats by Brighton and Brentford.
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A loss to Liverpool on Monday night will see United return to the foot of the Premier League table and mean they will have lost their three opening league games for the first time since 1986. The pressure is already on Ten Hag, although not many feel his job is under threat just yet.
But their dismal start will have alarmed him, and speaking to in-house media, he identified the 1-0 loss to Atletico in Oslo - which ended with Anthony Martial injured and Fred red carded - as the moment United's preparations for the new campaign began to go wrong.
“I’ve seen really good things, until Atletico Madrid,” he said. “After it, it’s a drop. We have to turn that around quickly, but it’s normal in the process. You grow and then you get a drop. But it’s about keeping the right pattern and the pattern going up.”
United were thrashed 4-0 by Brentford last weekend and Ten Hag said: “It was clear that last Saturday I was unhappy with that factor (lack of fight). I think it’s the basic stuff, what you have to bring at least as an individual and as a team on the pitch, but also what the fans can expect from us. That is what we didn’t do. I feel really sorry after Saturday’s game what we delivered for our fans.”
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