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Louise Thomas
Editor
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has urged his players to “keep the belief” as they bid to bounce back from Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League defeat against Tottenham.
United face a Europa League tie away to Porto on Thursday before tackling Aston Villa at Villa Park in the league on Sunday.
After losing three of their opening six league matches, form which has ramped up the pressure on Ten Hag, they are currently lying 13th in the table.
There is nothing for me to panic about. We can sort out, this team can sort this out— Erik ten Hag
But the Dutchman is in defiant mood ahead of the Porto clash and not fretting about his future.
“I am not thinking about it. I am not anxious,” the Dutchman told Sky Sports.
“We are going to make a success from the season. Nothing is easy but there is nothing for me to panic about. We can sort out, this team can sort this out.
“It is a bad performance (against Tottenham). I have to address the problems to give the solutions to the team. The most important (thing) is keep the belief. That is the most important message because if you lose your faith, you lose everything.
“Even after all the setbacks (against Spurs) we kept going. This is a team, they want to fight for each other. When we lose, everyone is disappointed and frustrated but it is also our fuel.”
Ten Hag is also adamant that he can block out criticism of him and focus on the challenge of turning around United’s faltering start to the new campaign.
“You have to deal with criticism and don’t make a big deal of it,” he said.
“Focus on managing the team, get the best of the team and don’t focus on negative opinions of you as a person. That doesn’t help the process.
“We created a togetherness in the summer with the ownership and the leadership. We made this agreement and we were all behind it.
“We are there together and we have to fight together to get out of this.”
