Every word from Ten Hag's press conference: Part two

The Manchester United boss was speaking to the media ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's visit to Old Trafford on Sunday (16:30 GMT), with a range of topics up for discussion.

The manager also had questions put to him about his own hunger, as he explained more about dealing with setbacks as part of the wider process of his job.

You can read everything the Dutchman had to say to reporters in part two of his press conference below...

Hi Erik, just twelve months ago, Cristiano Ronaldo left the club. This year another high-profile player has left the club [Jadon Sancho]. How important is it as manager that you are allowed to impose discipline on the club and in the dressing room?
"It is that if you want to perform, you need hungry players. I already said we need personality and players who are hungry to fight for the badge, to fight for this club and to do it within the team."

But in terms of you being able to make decisions on that discipline, it must be good that you we're backed by the owners last year, and now with new co-owners coming in, they back your decision?
"It is not about discipline, this is normal behaviour. It is about that and what you can expect from a top professional."

Erik, how is your hunger? You have been through the mill as many people have criticised you or criticised your teams and said you made the wrong signings. It's been 18 months in charge now, so how do you feel mentally and emotionally looking ahead? You say about the hunger of your players but it must be difficult for you sometimes?
"No. I am managing a project here and I know you will get setbacks. Like the injuries we had, and I already said before, no team can handle so many injuries, it causes a drop-off in level. Also, we made some choices in the summer, choices for the future, but we know we always must perform at a short notice and as quick as possible. I know we don't have time with the choices we made, but we signed some talent. [With] talent, you need time, like the developing you have seen from [Alejandro] Garnacho, from Kobbie Mainoo, and so for instance also Rasmus Hojlund. He needs time, but in the same moment, I know we don't have time, but I know this could happen. You need time to get that progress in and for me, it is not difficult, I see it as generational that this is how the process could go. Sometimes you need some moments to step up and get that belief in. For instance, at Arsenal, we should win and also at Spurs we should go into the lead. We didn't get to that point in the season and then from there you get some negativity, you get some injuries and then you come into a pattern where a lot is going against you. You have to deal with such setbacks but that belongs to the process. So if you ask me that question 'Is it difficult for you?' No, it is not difficult for me because I could respect from the start of this season when it happened, then the process can go negative. Then as a manager, you have to stay positive and get the process in the right direction. But in the meantime you have to be pragmatic, gather as many points as possible, then wait until the players are fit and in the meantime work on your team, work on the individuals, go to higher levels that you set conditions and [hope] that the team performs better and that they rise again."

Erik you mentioned the progress of Garnacho and Mainoo. On Monday night [at Wigan], [a lot of] the outfield players were from the Academy. In recent seasons, you have signed loan players to help fill those gaps. Do you think for the remainder of the season it would be preferable and for the long-term to maybe use some of these youngsters who are in and around the first-team squad, rather than bring in a short-term signing?
"So you always have to consider such choices, but they were two very good loans, very successful. [Marcel] Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst contributed a lot to our success last year. When such opportunities are coming up we have to take them. At the same time you have to analyse what is already onboard and what is coming up. For instance, in the summer, I already counted with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo - and I knew they would make mistakes - maybe we can't bring them in every game. But I counted with them, but of course that turned negative when Kobbie Mainoo got injured in the second game of the season and you lose him for three to four months. Then it stops the process and now we have to work him back. Then also you have to accept he cannot play three games or 90 minutes in the Premier League in six days, or seven days, that is not possible. You have to manage that or manage that process because you don't want him to get injured again. Then you need players who can replace his position in that moment and get the right results so that is what we tried to prepare for when we make our decision."