Erik ten Hag sends message to Manchester United fans with speech at awards dinner

Erik ten Hag vowed to achieve 'higher targets' at Manchester United in his acceptance speech at the Football Writers' Association awards for northern managers.

The pressure was mounting on Ten Hag following successive 3-0 home defeats by Manchester City and Newcastle, but United earned a crucial victory in a must-win match at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

United won 1-0 against Fulham thanks to Bruno Fernandes' late goal and the result has given Ten Hag some breathing space.

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United play F.C. Copenhagen away on Wednesday, which is another must-win match in the Champions League, and then Luton Town will make the visit to Old Trafford before the international break.

Ten Hag attended the FWA's Northern Managers Awards night on Sunday and he was given an award for leading United to the Carabao Cup last season, which ended the club's trophy drought.

He collected the award on stage, addressed the dinner party with a speech and vowed to achieve higher targets as United manager.

"I'm sure we are in the right direction and I'm happy to be here and to get this reward. I'm really grateful to the football writers for this award," Ten Hag said during his acceptance speech.

"What we achieved last year with the Carabao Cup, it was small, and we achieved an FA Cup final, which still hurts, but it's not enough, but many managers and many players know, it's not so often you win many trophies.

"But once you win such a trophy, you have to celebrate it because it's a very special moment which is not given to so many. So we did that, and we are still really pleased with it, but it's not enough at Manchester United.