Erik ten Hag: United players trust the process

Erik ten Hag says the group's frustration with Manchester United's recent results is tempered by their belief in the process.

Last season’s FA Cup triumph salvaged a poor campaign and helped Ineos, who took control of football operations earlier this year, eventually decide to keep with the Dutchman.

But Ten Hag’s third season in the Old Trafford hotseat has got off to a bumpy start.

A promising display in the Community Shield shootout loss to Manchester City and opening day win against Fulham have been quickly overshadowed by the late 2-1 loss at Brighton and 3-0 humbling by rivals Liverpool.

Those losses led Diogo Dalot to express frustration in the build-up to Saturday’s trip to Southampton as the right-back believes that United are in a better place than recent times despite the setbacks.

"Of course when you see the scores, no one is happy," Ten Hag said when the Portuguese’s comments were put to him.

"But also players have a very good sense of the process, of the quality of the process. Yeah, and I agree with him.

"Also, when you analyse the games – all the games – so far, we are in a good direction.

"But also as normal in a transition period and in a period where you have to build a team, we have to improve. We have to step up."

Asked what is different that Dalot is feeling and he is seeing to breed belief, the United boss said: "We have good characters.

"You feel the team spirit and now it’s about getting the patterns and the routines in.

"Once we have that, everyone sees the quality we have on the training pitch."

United will be looking to show that quality against promoted Southampton, who have yet to collect a point since returning to the Premier League.

The Red Devils are looking to avoid falling to a third successive