Ten Hag on being 'mad', Ashworth chats and player belief
- Published
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game against Porto (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Ten Hag confirmed Mason Mount did not travel after picking up a knock and a head injury, while he hopes Luke Shaw will be back after the international break.
On the mood around the team after the Tottenham defeat: "Always, when we are not winning we are disappointed and we are also mad with ourselves."
He added: "We are mad, mad with ourselves, especially when you lose a game like Sunday... but you have to deal with it. We are mad, and from the madness we have to get motivation."
On Improving results: "Everyone has to take responsibility and that starts with me as the manager. But on the pitch we have leadership skills and they have to stand up. Every game for us is important and every opponent is 100% motivated. We have to be ready to compete and fight with them."
He said they "talk everyday" with the new football structure at the club: "We are a union and we made that commitment in the summer. We refreshed the staff and I appointed my assistants, I appointed the staff. I did this. We refreshed the squad as well."
He added: "This club wants to be back on top and it's a long-term target. We talk every day. Every day we evaluate and review the process and where necessary we make our decisions."
Speaking to Dan Ashworth is "not necessary to give me confidence," the United boss said and added: "We talk every day about how we can improve this club, this team, improve the processes, the procedures, the connections. That is what we talk about."
On taking chances: "We create a lot of chances, the third highest xG in the Premier League. We have to improve the final third and in the box game, be more killers there. Our strikers are capable of doing this."
On if the players have belief: "I have seen so many games where we are completely confident. City in the FA Cup and Community Shield, you see the team have such a great belief in the plan and in each other."
