Erik ten Hag makes Manchester United admission ahead of Burnley game

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has explained the reason behind United’s poor start to the season and reveals plans for his players after the World Cup.

Man United got off to a losing start to the season following a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.

Just when many thought it was a blip, the Red Devils rather succumbed to an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Brentford on the road in their next Premier League game.

Erik ten Hag had to make some bold decisions in his team and went on to win four league matches on a bounce including a win over Liverpool.

Reflecting on United’s poor start to the season, Ten Hag said: “Where we were at the start of the season, we were just not good enough.

“I knew it when I stepped in that we would have days like that [against Brentford], that we would have defeats.

“You saw in this World Cup many nations played passively, waiting and playing on the reaction. We have seen against Manchester City, that was our big problem in that game.

“We want to be dominant and proactive, but we played in a different way.”

Ten Hag added: “We are in a good direction, but still there is a lot of room for improvement – it means keeping high standards. I always say, satisfaction makes you lazy.

“If you are too satisfied with yourself and the team, you will not maintain those standards.”

On his plans for his players who participated in the recently concluded World Cup in Qatar, he said: “The first objective is to get back on track because when they [the players] come back from the World Cup they have been in different styles and systems.”