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Erik ten Hag is convinced \u201cit is only a matter of time\u201d until Manchester United show their \u201ctrue selves\u201d after a poor start to the campaign was compounded in the Manchester derby.<\/p>\n
Sunday\u2019s 3-0 home humbling at the hands of neighbours Manchester City provided the exclamation mark on a difficult start to the Dutchman\u2019s second season in the hotseat.<\/p>\n
United were outclassed and outthought for the most part at Old Trafford, where Ten Hag\u2019s men will attempt to bounce back in Wednesday\u2019s Carabao Cup fourth-round clash against Newcastle.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Manchester United, every game involves high stakes,\u201d the Red Devils boss said ahead of the repeat of last season\u2019s Carabao Cup final.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery single day, there is pressure on everybody involved with this club, but those demands and standards are a challenge which we must always meet head-on.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile this has not been the start to the season that we had all hoped for, I am certain that we have the talent and attitude as a collective to move in the right direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that it is only a matter of time before we are showing our true selves. It will come, I am certain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ten Hag\u2019s comments came in his manager\u2019s notes for Wednesday\u2019s edition of the matchday programme, United Review.<\/p>\n
Emotions will have been raw when producing the column in the aftermath of the City defeat but the Red Devils boss is only focused on improved performances and results.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no point in feeling sorry for ourselves at this moment in time,\u201d Ten Hag said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody at this club enjoys defeat, particularly in a Manchester derby like last Sunday, but everything we have achieved together so far has been built on looking forward, which means we have to move on quickly from what happens, whether it is positive or negative.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have never spent too long enjoying our victories, so we will not spend too much time thinking about our losses. We must always look forward, together.<\/p>\n
\u201cI continue to believe in these players and am confident we will improve after a difficult start to the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn Sunday, in the first half particularly, we showed good defensive discipline and we created opportunities to counter-attack, but we were unable to capitalise on those chances at decisive times in the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cImportant moments went against us and we were once again reminded that any mistake is punished at the highest level.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBefore the derby, we won three games in a row and demonstrated our character on each occasion, so we have developed in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also gradually getting some players back from injury, which gives us more options and allows us to select players in their natural positions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Injuries have been a key mitigating factor in United\u2019s shaky start, with Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Amad Diallo ruled out of the Manchester derby.<\/p>\n
Four of those played key roles in February\u2019s Carabao Cup triumph against Newcastle \u2013 a day that has so far proven the high point of Ten Hag\u2019s reign, rather than the catalyst for further success.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we welcome Eddie Howe and Newcastle United to Old Trafford, our focus moves back to the Carabao Cup and a reminder of how well we did to win this competition last season,\u201d Ten Hag said<\/p>\n
\u201cOur game management throughout that cup run, especially in the final against Newcastle, showed our ability to rise to big occasions \u2013 and tonight is definitely another big occasion for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always want to do as well as we possibly can in every competition we enter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know how good it feels to lift this trophy and, as holders, we want to get back to Wembley Stadium again this season and defend the Carabao Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n