Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag said on Friday his club was fighting to turn things around after a disastrous start to the season.
After five days of the championship, the club is languishing in 13th position in the Premier League standings, with two victories for three defeats, the last of which was at home against Brighton (3-1).
The poor form of Manchester United, who have lost 18 of their last 35 away matches in all competitions, makes their trip to Burnley on Sunday a particularly anticipated event.
“There are gaps and we come out stronger as long as we stay united, and that’s what we do,” the Dutch coach said at a press conference. “The locker room, the staff, all the staff, the coaches, the doctors, everyone is united and at United, we fight,” he added.
“This is my second season (in this position, editor’s note),” defended Ten Hag, whose team finished in third place in the English championship last season, ending a six-year drought and returning to the Champions League.
Manchester United will once again be deprived of Jadon Sancho on Sunday, whose future in the red jersey has been compromised since a spat with his coach.
The numerous injuries also affect the club’s performance. Raphaël Varane, Mason Mount, Sofyan Amrabat and Harry Maguire are still doubtful for Sunday’s match.
The lack of defensive solidity is at the heart of the team’s problems, which have conceded 14 goals in their last five matches, including 4 during their spectacular trip to Bayern Munich this week for their return to C1.
For ten Hag, this problem does not only concern defenders. “I always tell my players that we attack with eleven and we defend with eleven. We are like a house of cards. When one or two players don’t do their job, the whole team suffers,” said the coach.