Every word from Erik's press conference: part two

The Reds enter Saturday's 12:30 GMT match against the Cottagers looking to react from successive home defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle United, and the trip to the capital provides an early opportunity to bounce back.

Ten Hag spoke about his philosophy and the status of his squad in the first part of his press conference on Friday afternoon; in the second section, he fielded further questions about his tactics, as well as discussing his standards, finding a balance in the United midfield and Marcus Rashford.

You can read - and watch - the second part of his pre-match media briefing below...

Marcus Rashford had a party hours after the derby on Sunday night. Did you know about that and did you approve of that?
"Yes I am aware of it. I spoke with him about it. It is unacceptable. I told him, he apologised and that's it."
 
And that's case closed?
"No further words, it is an internal matter."
 
That would appear to suggest it is not over. Is there a fine or anything that followed that?
"As I say, it is an internal matter."

People will look at what Marcus did and say he is just not tuned in to what you demand from the team. How can that be, because you are very clear? I think you dropped him last season against Wolves for late time-keeping so how can he make another mistake like this?
"I think your suggestion is not right. He is fitting in. He is very motivated to put things right. I know how much effort he is putting in. He is totally with us."
 
If it is unacceptable, to use your words, he's not fitting in, is he? It's unacceptable...
"So he makes a mistake but it doesn't say he [is not] fitting in. I see him every day what he is doing. I know. He makes one mistake but also off the pitch what he is doing. How he lives, I am sure he is doing everything right to help the team and to perform and let us win."
 
You have dropped players before when they have not met your standards. Will Marcus be available to play tomorrow?
"He is available."

You're the fifth Manchester United manager in the last 10 years. Big managers like Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, who have won lots of trophies, have come here and failed. Does that suggest it is not the managers' fault, and that it is the system and structure in place that is not designed for sustained success?
"It is possible. I am convinced. Sometimes you have difficult periods and when we stick together and we are together then we come through these difficult periods."
 
Do you think the structure now, as it is set up, is designed for this club to be successful?
"I wouldn't work here if I thought it wasn't right."
 
Marcus [Rashford] on the pitch, is he starting from a deeper position this season than he did last season when he scored a lot of goals? And just on this week as well, was he on the bench because of the weekend or was that separate?
"No. We rotated more in that game and it is not our intention to position him lower or deeper on the pitch. He has to be as close as possible to the opponents' goal because they are his qualities. So for us [he is] so important and he will so much contribute to our success. So we have to get him there as a team and, as an individual, he also has to make his movements to arrive in the right moments. So [it's about] his timing, and I am sure it will be back."

Erik, what do you do personally to handle the pressure? Do you find it a lonely place? Is there something you do away from the training ground to cope with it all?
"I do nothing different. At the end of the day it is about 11 against 11 and it is about refereeing. You have to face the opposition and you have to prepare the team and you do that on the training pitch. You do that during the week here at Carrington and prepare the team as good as possible as a team and individuals."
 
There must be an impact on you as well though, Erik?
"So always when the team is not playing well, you think about how to get it right. But for the rest, I am not thinking about things away from the team and of course sometimes I have commented on that question before. I need my relaxation to get the energy. But for now, it is 24/7. You think about how do I get this right."
 
You spoke about taking responsibility and also about the players taking responsibility too. Do you trust them to take that responsibility, when you have a situation where, in a bad moment, one of your senior players has made a silly mistake?
"So yeah, I have to take responsibility. And yes, it is a shared responsibility. Yeah, I trust the players. Again, I have seen many moments in the months and years I have been here and also lately that they fight. There is the spirit and for instance, the return against Brentford."

In the last six matches, you have made half-time changes in five of them. Why is that?
"You want to let the team play better. We have a squad and when I think the team needs a change to win the game then you make the change. I think some were very good and changed the game in our favour and yeah, because we have that squad so we have to use that squad."
 
Do you maybe look back at some of those games and think the starting XI hasn't been correct?
"I don't think that is the case but also you have to play out of the result. If you are leading, if it's a draw or if you are losing, it is also about that. About game management."
 
After the victory over FC Copenhagen, Paul Scholes asked you how to find the right balance in midfield and you said you have to make changes at the back and they sometimes open the midfield. How do you manage that struggle and find the right balance in what you want your midfield to do?
"When you don't have a consistent back four, the routines are not there. Especially the way I want to play, where everyone is attacking, everyone is defending, the routines are very important. And when that is not the case, sometimes the midfield is exposed. It is not the fault of the midfield and I can't blame the back four because the routines are not there. In top football it goes so quickly and then if you don't take the right position in the right moment, the midfield can look exposed. It's what you don't want and it will have an impact on the game. But you have to get back to the routines and also then you have to play with a consistent team."
 
Last month you also said United were successful in terms of regaining possession. How do you ensure that when the team get possession, they get a shot on goal rather than losing the ball very quickly?
"We can do that better and I explained that also in one of the previous press conferences. We worked on that with the players and I am convinced they will transfer that into the matches."