Ten Hag: The team must take responsibility

Luke Shaw admitted that the squad had a chat in the St James' Park changing room, with no staff around, shortly after the final whistle had blown in the North East.

While the exact content of the conversation will remain under wraps, Ten Hag believes it shows a willingness to take responsibility and communicate - the best way to win games going forward, for our Dutch manager - rather than being overly reliant on the coaches' game plan.

A reaction to Sunday is required and Brentford come to town on Wednesday evening, with three points taking us back above Newcastle and Tottenham into third.

Erik's full Q&A ahead of our return to Old Trafford is available to read and watch in full below...

Erik, as you said on Sunday, we’ve tended to bounce back really well from defeats in the Premier League this season. What will your message be to the players ahead of the game with Brentford?
“We have already given the message. Every gameday you have to match the standards and Sunday we were below our standards and our expectations. We got beaten and that was justified and deserved, because we didn’t play our best game.”

Newcastle seemed to use their cup final defeat to us as motivation on Sunday. We had that bad result against Brentford earlier in the season – is that something we can use in the same way?
“Of course, you can take something. Always I think you have to get the motivation out of yourself: you want to play your best football. But when you face Brentford, you have to play the absolute best football because it’s a really good team, well-structured and in every stage of the game they play brilliant football. When you don’t match the high standards, it’s a big problem.”

What are your thoughts on Brentford’s progress this season? They’re on a great run in the Premier League and almost won at Brighton at the weekend…
“As I say, it’s a very good team. They really work well together as a team in every stage of the game. That’s a big credit to their team and their manager and coaching staff.”

After the game at the weekend, Luke Shaw said the players had their own debrief in the changing room. Is that something you encourage, for the players to talk like that, amongst themselves?
“Absolutely. We give them instructions, we give them guidelines but on the pitch they have to take responsibility as a team and they have to make the game. On the sideline you have an influence, but it’s not as big anymore [once they’re on the pitch]. You give them a game plan and that has to be a guideline but from then on they have to make the game and find solutions and that is all about communication, because through communication you get organisation and when you get that pretty well, you’ve got the best chance of winning games. It’s all about that, to win games as a team.”

As for team news, how are we looking and is Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] available after his illness?
“He returns back to training today [Tuesday], and then we will see.”

But generally, is the team looking OK?
“In general, it’s quite OK. Christian Eriksen will also return back to team training today, so that’s very good news. He will shortly return and for the rest I don’t think we have any definite or new issues.”

And as for the game, finally, at Old Trafford, which has become a fortress: our home form has been exceptional. Do we need everyone pulling together from that first whistle on Wednesday to ensure we get off to a good start?
“Yes, as always. But that [a good start] is a demand we expect from the players, the team and Manchester United. It doesn’t matter if you play away or at home. Of course, we like to play at Old Trafford, because we know it will be a great ambiance as long as we, as a team, give the energy.”