Erik ten Hag pinpoints the two key areas Manchester United must improve to turn form around

Erik ten Hag has stressed the importance of communication and concentration as Manchester United aim to turn their form around against Brentford this afternoon.

United have endured their worst start to a campaign for 39 years, following Tuesday's 3-2 Champions League defeat at home to Galatasaray. The Reds were electric in spells but despite twice taking the lead through Rasmus Hojlund they conceded three very avoidable goals.

It has been a pattern of their season that dominant spells are followed by lapses in concentration and unforced errors. And Ten Hag insists focus must be the priority for the full 90 minutes.

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“You have to be right on spot on any occasion during the game and you can't lose any awareness or any sharpness, in any game," Ten Hag told MUTV. "And there has to be always communication across the whole pitch.

"When the communication drops in levels, then you can have a problem because any one moment, opponents will take benefit from it. That was a tough lesson again, but as you say, again, there were also very good spells in the game and we scored two good goals. But then all the hard work we invested has gone, in a moment, and, in one moment, you lose focus as a team."

In Brentford, United welcome another side in the midst of a disappointing run. The Bees have only won once all season, in the second week against Fulham.

Like United, they are struggling with a number of absentees and haven't won at Old Trafford since 1937. But Ten Hag is under no illusions about the size of the task facing his side this afternoon.

"I think it's always a tough opponent and they have a very good spirit,"