Every word from Erik's press conference: part one

Saturday's lunch-time fixture at Craven Cottage is an opportunity for Ten Hag's team to get back to winning ways, following consecutive home defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle United.

While conducting his customary press conference, the manager fielded questions on philosophy, a must-win fixture in the capital, and more.

Read every word from the Dutchman below...

We know that Casemiro is ruled out, but what is the latest team news?
"[Raphael] Varane is ready to play. He will be travelling with the squad."

Any other injury worries?
"Just Victor Lindelof. From illness. We have to see if he is ready for tomorrow."

You said after the Newcastle game that you were a fighter but some people have questioned your team's character and your squad. Do you believe they have the fight to get you out of this?
"That is not right. You can't say that. Remember the fight we showed against Brentford and that comeback. If there wasn't spirit in the dressing room or there aren't characters in the dressing room, you can't do this."

After the Manchester City game, you said that you couldn't play here the way Ajax played. Is that right, because most people would think you came here because of the way you played there?
"I thought it was an explanation from my point of view [that] was totally wrong. But I can't play like Ajax because we have different players. I came here with my philosophy based on possession but also to combine it with the DNA of Manchester United and combine it with the players and the competences and with the characters of the players. You combine and I think last year we have seen what that was. We played very good football last season. This season, the philosophy is not different and I would emphasise more on going direct. But the explanation of my going direct, they [journalists] thought I wanted to go for long balls. No, I don't. I didn't buy Andre Onana to go for long balls. I know we want to play from the back as we did and we tried every game. We also did against City but if an opponent is going in a high press there is an option to go direct. What I meant with directness, and I explain it, is I thought it was in the USA [on tour] how we want to play. We want to press. We want to press from different blocks and then go direct because we have players like Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, Antony and Bruno and Scott McTominay who are very good at it, with passing from Christian Eriksen. With our full-backs joining in. That was my idea and I explained it very clear."

A lot of people can't see that or any way of playing in the last few games...
"I don't want to say that. I think that is too strong. I think the intention is clear but definitely it is the case that the execution isn't there. But I think the moment we are in, with so many changes in every game, we can't line up the same two or three games after each other. We have to swap. And last season was the same, but it was one player and now we miss two or three players in the back four and we have to adjust and it doesn't help the routines. Also in the midfield we have to adjust, missing Casemiro, an important player. We have to win and I don't want to find excuses if we are not winning. We have to be more pragmatic but still we have to win. That is the demand and I don't walk away from that."

You've had two bad home defeats. You have to win tomorrow - everyone feels that. What have you said to the players this week and what reaction have you had from them?
"They are positive. They want to put this right. We know the standards here and we have to match the standards every day. We have had two big setbacks and we will fight back. This dressing room is strong and this staff is strong and this manager is strong, to put this right."

Sir Jim Ratcliffe announced today [there will be] significant money for the stadium. Are you confident of significant money for players?
"I have a good squad. I am convinced of the players in the dressing room. These players we have seen last year. They can do a lot better but it is up to me to let them play better. I take the responsibility to let them play better and I will put everything in to get this done. I am not thinking about [transfer] windows. We have a good squad and we constructed this squad and when players are available and returning from injury we will do better."

Is tomorrow a must-win and potentially the most important game in your time here?
"I never think in such scenarios. I think in every game we must win. In every game we must put every effort in. We prepare, the players will do very good and I think we will do everything to execute that plan."

How do you get back to winning and being hard to beat?
"I think the players are hard to beat but in this moment, obviously, then you lose two games we did not show it. I am convinced that in the long term these players will be hard to beat and they know how to do it."

Part two of Erik's press conference will be available to watch and read from 22:30 tonight (Friday).