Erik ten Hag explains decision to haul in Manchester United players for training on day off

Erik ten Hag decided to cancel Manchester United players' day off last Sunday during their shambolic thrashing by Brentford. United were trounced 4-0 at the Community Stadium in their last game and the players were hauled in for an unscheduled training session the next day.

Ten Hag had allocated the United players two days off after the Brentford fixture as there was a nine-day gap until the visit of Liverpool, but he presided over an intense session at Carrington that a source said left the players "in ruins".

"I took the decision on Saturday, actually during the game, when I saw the performance," Ten Hag clarified. "That is not the standard for Man United and actually it's not my standard. We had to change that. I have to face the team, the players what the standard is, that we don't accept this.

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"It's not a problem. I hope they are angry but angry with themselves, angry with each other that they didn't take each other in responsibility.

"When I say it's not acceptable, you can't deliver for yourself, for the team, for Man United and for all the fans of Man United.

"To face the team, the attitude is not right. You have to bring at least the same as the opponent but when I say at least, we have to do more than the opponent in and out of possession.

"We are in a process, sometimes you have a drop and you tell them, you face them, that's unacceptable. In every process, this element is coming up.

"One of the points as a manager is that you have to work on attitude and mentality of the players. That's what I'm doing. This is the first time since June 27 that I was not happy and not satisfied with them and I told them."

Ten Hag disputed the suggestion his