'Have we lowered our expectations?'published at 10:36 24 October
10:36 24 October
Whether Manchester United are back on track after their comeback Premier League win over Brentford is yet to be seen, but the three points seem to have eased the pressure on Erik ten Hag and his team.
But have United fans' expectations of the standards they expect from their side been lowered because of the difficult start to the season?
That is what The Devils' Advocate team have been asking in this week's podcast.
Eriksen sees improvementpublished at 08:29 24 October
08:29 24 October
Image source, Getty Images
Christian Eriksen feels he has seen improvement in Manchester United since their Europa League draw with FC Twente and comments he made after the match were "in the heat of the moment".
The midfielder said it "looked like they wanted it more" after the Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw with the Dutch side in their opening game of the competition.
The match came in a difficult spell for the team which saw the pressure increase on manager Erik ten Hag.
United's comeback win against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday has eased the pressure and the side will be hoping to take that confidence into Thursday's match with Fenerbahce as they look for their first Europa League victory of the season.
Asked about his previous comments in the pre-match news conference, Eriksen said: "Yes, I think we have [seen improvement].
"When you draw or lose, the confidence is down a bit. When I spoke it was in the heat of the moment. It felt like a loss but since then our group is getting together and we have played some good games since.
"Winning games is the aim and that is what we are going for."
The Denmark international is currently in the final year of his contract at United and could leave as a free agent in the summer.
He struggled for playing time last season but he has managed to regain his place and would be open to signing a new deal if one was offered.
"It’s not really up to me when my contract runs out, it’s up to the club," he said.
"I have really enjoyed my time at the club and still do. When the summer comes, if the offer is there, I will definitely take it seriously."
Gossip: Antony attracts Dutch interestpublished at 07:55 24 October
07:55 24 October
Manchester United winger Antony could be offered a route out of Old Trafford by his former club Ajax, but the Dutch giants are said to have some reservations about a deal. (De Telegraaf, via Mirror), external
Former Barcelona boss Xavi wants to take the Catalan club's 27-year-old winger Raphinha to Old Trafford, if he replaces Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
Ten Hag on missing players, winning trophies and facing Mourinhopublished at 20:49 23 October
20:49 23 October
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game at Fenerbahce (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Mason Mount's recovery from injury is taking "a little bit longer than expected" but Ten Hag is expecting the midfielder back "soon".
On facing an intense atmosphere in the stadium: "We have enough players in the team. They are so experienced in facing these situations more often. We are looking forward to it. It will be a great ambience and fuel for the team; a challenge and motivation that will be good for us."
Ten Hag said winning the Europa League is a "target what we want to achieve and we have a big opportunity this season". He added that he and his players "know what we have to do and we have to win games."
On Jose Mourinho's comments when leaving United about the club not being seen as elite in Europe: "This season, we just started - we have two draws. First season, we won a lot of European games. Last season was, domestically and in Europe, a more difficult journey. But we are confident we are capable of doing this - winning games in the Premier League and in Europe."
On facing the former United boss: "Mourinho and I, we won a lot of trophies. But you have to prove yourself every year and if we don't we are always under criticism. Professional football is about winning games and when you don’t then you know criticism is coming. In the end, we know that it is about how you are at the end of the year. Mourinho is so experienced - he will lead [his team] to best form and be successful."
Ten Hag said Fenerbahce are a "very good team" that United will not "underestimate or overestimate", adding: "We will play our own game. We are looking forward and always look forward against good teams because we are professional footballers and enjoy these challenges."
On how they attack this competition while missing players: "It is complicated. It is never easy, but we will deal with it. We have to play many games in a short time and will do the best possible. As long as you have players available enough, then you can construct a team without injury risk and you can play games. At the moment it is OK, but hopefully we don't have many more injuries because then we will be short."
'They are giving Ten Hag conditions to keep developing his job'published at 15:42 23 October
15:42 23 October
Image source, Getty Images
Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says the "conditions" for Erik ten Hag are "different" to what he had when he was at the club.
Mourinho was asked about his old club before his current team Fenerbahce's Europa League encounter with United in Istanbul on Thursday.
In praising United for keeping faith Ten Hag during the present difficult spell, Mourinho managed to refer back to his own dismissal in December 2018 after two and a half seasons in charge.
"I wish the best to Manchester United since the moment I left," he said.
"I left with a good feeling to the club and with a good feeling to the fans. If things are not going amazingly well for them it's not something that makes me happy.
"It doesn't make sense for me to be thinking about what happened and what didn't happen. What happened for sure, because it's very objective, is they keep faith in the coach.
"They support the coach and the coach is staying season after season. That means stability and it means trust. They are giving him conditions to keep developing his job. That was different in relation to me."
Mourinho said he was unaware he has never previously lost a home game against United.
He pointed out his previous encounters with them were with 'big clubs' and said Fenerbahce would require the help of 35,000 home supporters in the stadium to stand any chance of victory.
"We are going to try and we can do it, but there is a gap," he added.
Has Ten Hag 'found the winning formula'?published at 12:33 22 October
12:33 22 October
Alex Turk Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Erik ten Hag has found a winning formula that he must persist with to overturn Manchester United's fortunes on the pitch.
Now, I know what you're thinking.
"Alex, United have beaten 13th-place Brentford 2-1 at home. Relax, chump."
That's true. But hear me out.
Plenty of intrigue has swarmed Ruud van Nistelrooy's Old Trafford return. Can one of United's greatest forwards sprinkle some of his goal dust (see what I did there?) on Ten Hag's misfiring attack?
From what I and 73,737 others witnessed on the pitch on Saturday, he may already be making the desired impact.
The scoreline does not tell the whole story. United were dominant as they faced more adversity square in the face. Ten Hag orchestrated a genuinely encouraging performance all around. He needed that.
As for that winning formula. I'll get to the point. Marcus Rashford was a joy to watch on the right flank - defensively and offensively.
He showcased his range of passing - a criminally underrated trait - to connect with Alejandro Garnacho on the opposite flank and cause havoc for Brentford's vulnerable back line.
And Garnacho, what a menace. The zestful Argentina winger just doesn't stop. Shot after shot after shot. He will consistently score and assist goals simply due to how often he gets himself in the positions to do so.
Then there's Rasmus Hojlund as United's number nine finds his stride. If Van Nistelrooy exudes his influence onto anyone on the pitches of Carrington, it will be him.
You would be forgiven if you thought for a split second that the Dutch icon had found a spare strip in the dugout and produced that delightful winner.
Amad Diallo and Joshua Zirkzee are exciting squad options, but Ten Hag has found his first-choice front three. He must allow them to continue growing together.
Gossip: Rashford and Zirkzee targets for European sidespublished at 07:30 22 October
07:30 22 October
Bayern Munich and Marseille have joined Paris St-Germain in the race to sign 26-year-old England forward Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. (Teamtalk), external
Manchester United are prepared to entertain loan offers in January for Brazil winger Antony, 24. (Football Insider), external
Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee, 23, could leave on loan in January, with Juventus interested in the Dutchman. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
And, given this ebb and flow of emotion, every so often, even the coolest heads boil over.
Image source, Getty Images
Man Utd post photos of Yoro in trainingpublished at 18:37 21 October
18:37 21 October
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United have posted pictures of defender Leny Yoro ‘on the grass’ as he continues his recovery from a broken foot.
United paid Lille £52m for Yoro in July but the 18-year-old was injured almost immediately in a pre-season game against Arsenal in Los Angeles.
The Old Trafford club said at the time Yoro would be out for around three months.
United said Monday was Yoro’s ‘first day back out on the grass’.
However, they also say the centre-half has ‘plenty of work to do’ before he is ready for a return to action.
🎧 Pressure eased after Brentford winpublished at 18:13 21 October
18:13 21 October
After Manchester United won in the Premier League against Brentford on Saturday, BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast reflects on whether the victory has eased the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.
The team are also joined by United YouTuber, Nick McCabe, to preview their Europa League trip to against Fenerbahce and a reunion with Jose Mourinho on Thursday.
Man Utd win 'will have calmed some nerves'published at 16:57 21 October
16:57 21 October
Image source, Getty Images
The BBC's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your Premier League questions.
Mick asked: If there had been a suitable available candidate, would Manchester United have replaced Erik ten Hag?
Phil answered: Hello, Mick. I think if we are framing this question in the summer then the answer would have been “yes”, because it is accepted they spoke to candidates such as Thomas Tuchel, which suggests they were looking for alternatives.
When the question arose recently, we must accept United stuck by the decision they made in the summer to stick with Ten Hag – and the win over Brentford on Saturday will have calmed some of the nerves around Old Trafford.
Marcus: This was the first match that I've enjoyed watching United play for a long time. Still a little confused by the lack of intensity in the first 15 minutes but the rest of the game was a real pleasure to watch.
Jonty: Miles better today, especially second half. Rashford worked really hard on the right and didn't sulk when filling in at full-back when Dalot made his runs. Looked like there were some tactics in play, while De Ligt and Evans were great. Martinez looked comfortable at left-back. Zirkzee looked asleep, but Rasmus played a great number nine game. Onwards and Upwards.
Terry: Second half was easily the best performance of the season. De Ligt looking like the class act we were told he is. Garnacho outstanding but good performances all over the pitch including the much maligned Casemiro and Eriksen. Question is - can they keep this up into the coming weeks?
Brentford
Kyle: We played well, but overall I think Mbeumo’s sloppy performance maybe cost a goal or two. I think Schade played well at centre forward, and we missed Wissa (until the last 20 mins or so). We also missed Jensen with his creativity. Overall, our defence was at times scrappy and made a few mistakes, but it was expected to not get all three points against Man Utd.
Jason: I took my mate Jim to his first away game and it was disappointing for all of us. United were ripe for the picking and we let them off again. I hate to say it but it could be time to look for a new manager. Come in Mr Frank, your time is up!
Mikey: Brentford need a goalkeeper not a converted full-back. When Raya left I don’t understand why Brentford didn’t just trade contracts for Ramsdale. Massive blunder.
Gossip: Man Utd to battle Real Madrid for Daviespublished at 07:47 21 October
07:47 21 October
Manchester United are aiming to convince Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies, 23, to choose them over Real Madrid when the Canada international's contract expires at the end of the season. (Fichajes – in Spanish, external)
United may loan Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee, 23, to Juventus if they sign RB Leipzig's Slovenian frontman Benjamin Sesko, 21, next summer. (Tuttomercato – in Italian, external)
