Every word: Erik's press conference

The boss cited the visitors' opening goal, scored by Brennan Johnson within three minutes of kick-off in front of the Stretford End, as a key moment, with the Reds struggling to produce an immediate reaction in the face of Spurs' early dominance.

We did have chances in the first half, with Joshua Zirkzee drawing a smart save and Alejandro Garnacho hitting a post but, for every United opportunity, there was one for Spurs at the other end - and things went from bad to worse when Bruno Fernandes was shown a red card late in the half.

Our best period came after Dejan Kulusevski's second goal two minutes after the half-time restart, but it was still in vain, and our faint hopes of a comeback were diminished when Dominic Solanke made it three with a quarter of an hour remaining.

The manager was quizzed by the media about his side's display after full-time, and you can read his responses in full below...

Erik, with the squad today, the players you had at your disposal, how can you produce a performance that bad?

"It was clear we started the game very poor. After we concede the goal like we did in the third minute, and you are actually outnumbering [the opposition], and then concede a goal from a counter-attack where a centre-half is crossing the whole pitch and then bring, on the goalline, a cross in and then on the back post tapping in. That was our game plan; we should protect that area very good in your best defence in the defensive transition, because we knew the strength and from that point on, we are very stressful in the game and in possession, we didn’t find the spare man in the switch, bad decision-making, we couldn’t keep the ball, not aggressive enough or to play around with third-man actions, too many ball losses and also we didn’t get the press right. First 20 minutes was no good but we were still alive and we also had our chances with Zirkzee, with Garnacho hitting the post, then you can always come back. But then the red card, then we are downsized and it also has a big impact in the game."

Hi, Erik. You’ve lost the last two games in the league here 3-0, how do you and the players come back from this, can you come back from this?

"Of course, there’s always a new game, there will be a new day, and it’s also obvious. You have to learn as a team - it can’t happen in four days now, twice, [that] the defender of the opponent can dribble through the whole park without being stopped. Then things are impossible at top football, you can’t make such mistakes, so definitely, we have to address this. But we will bounce back."

You say you have to learn and be better, but you were saying similar things four weeks ago, after Liverpool. Do you worry that the owners may have a different view, that the only way this situation can improve and can get better is with a different manager in charge?

"No, I’m not thinking about this. I think we all made, in togetherness, this decision to stay together, as an ownership, as a leadership group, in the summer. And also, we made the decision from a clear review, what we have to improve as an organisation and how also we want to construct a squad. And they are all decision-making in togetherness, but also we knew it would take some time because of how the window went, some players late in, like Ugarte, we have to integrate him now. Also, we had to make some improvement in organisation, we still have to deal with some injuries, also from impact players, and I think we will get better there. We need some time. We are all on one page, one boat, together, the ownership, the leadership group, the staff and players group as well. I don’t have that concern."

You were very critical of the goal they conceded against FC Twente in the week. In your programme notes today, you said that 100 per cent is the bare minimum of a Man United player, but in two minutes, you’ve conceded the same goal again. Are you convinced that your players are taking what you’re saying on board?

"Yes, I am. But it’s clear that we are very disappointed when you concede again a goal like this, it shouldn’t happen, and especially when you address it so loud and clear how you have to deal with such situations."

Erik, before the red card, what you saw from your team, the lack of pressure against the ball, not tracking runners, being so sloppy in possession when counter-attacking situations were on - was that one of the worst performances you’ve seen?

"It’s definitely clear but I just said this in this press conference that what I saw in the first 30 minutes, that is below the level what we can expect from a Man United team. Even when you concede so early on in the game, a goal, you should stay calm and control the game, control your performance. Sticking together and stick to the plan and then you will have a foothold in the game and now you didn’t got this, although, as I said, we had our chances as well."

Do you think it was more psychological then than tactical, because of the early goal that Spurs scored?

"Definitely, I saw this, that the players got very stressful after they concede so quick a goal, and they made very bad decisions on the ball where we had some options to play over and we should have done better with this."