Erik ten Hag has called on Manchester United's players to learn their "big lesson" after the thrashing at Anfield on Sunday if they want to develop into a team that wins trophies on a regular basis.
United's fine run of form under Ten Hag came to a crashing halt as they lost 7-0 to Liverpool, conceding six goals in a second-half meltdown.
It's the third time this season United have suffered a heavy away defeat but this one came at a period when they had been in excellent form, including winning the Carabao Cup just seven days earlier.
READ MORE: Ten Hag makes decision on Fernandes captaincy
United have had a few days to come to terms with their Merseyside horror show and Ten Hag wants them to bounce back to form against Real Betis on Thursday, in the first leg of the Europa League last-16 tie at Old Trafford.
"I think they reflected well, we know, but we also know in a season setbacks will always be there," Ten Hag said.
"This was a huge setback, that’s clear, but when you had a run, 23 games with one loss, that was the second, of course the way it was there were a lot of lessons in it and that can help us for the future, that’s the positive out of it.
"How negative it is, we were really below average, especially mentally-wise. We have to take the lessons, we want to be a big team, we want to win trophies, then you have to act differently, after Sunday we got a big lesson, we take that and now we have to move on and look forward. That’s the way we treated it, now all the energy, all the focus has to be on the next game."
READ NEXT:
