Erik ten Hag endured a tough start at Manchester United but he had to lay down the gauntlet from the get-go after the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Brentford.
The Red Devils were thrashed at the Brentford Community Stadium courtesy of goals from Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee and Bryan Mbeumo - leaving United bottom of the Premier League after two matches. It was a demoralising afternoon in west London and Ten Hag felt he had to change something.
The Dutchman was visibly upset and frustrated with his side's performance and made his players do a gruelling 8.5mile run the day after the loss at Brentford. Ten Hag decided to take part in the punishment but he was far from happy with his team and labelled the display as "rubbish" in his post-match press conference.
But it has since been revealed that one of his United players complained about the 32c heat in the clash with the Bees, according to the Times. "It's way too hot to play football," one of the players moaned. The new United boss was unimpressed. "Stop whining," Ten Hag yelled back at the player from the sideline.
United's fortunes have seemed to change since that day as Ten Hag laid down the law to his new players that they must do better and issues like that aren't acceptable at the club. The 52-year-old also claimed there had been "too much talk" regarding what his players should do and that "it was time to act".
There was a whole lot of pressure on the United players heading into their clash with fellow winless side Liverpool on August 23, but the Red Devils responded to put in a remarkable performance. It was like chalk and cheese from the first two games and they were so much better in every department.
Ten Hag made a couple of changes to his XI for the game and brought back in the likes of Raphael Varane, Tyrell Malacia, Scott McTominay and Anthony Elanga, dropping Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Fred and Cristiano Ronaldo. Whatever Ten Hag did or said to his players worked as they came out of the blocks flying against the Reds.
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United were a goal up inside 16 minutes through Jadon Sancho's terrific turn and finish, and although they couldn't grab another before the break, they were terrific throughout. Marcus Rashford added a second on the counter-attack in the 53rd minute to give United some breathing room and spark jubilant scenes inside Old Trafford.
Mohamed Salah pulled one back for Liverpool late on but it was too little too late as United held out for their first win of the campaign. After the game, United legend Gary Neville admitted his surprise by the performance and how much different the Red Devils were compared to the defeat at Brentford.
He told Sky Sports: "I didn't think that was possible before the game. They've responded, making brave decisions, leaving the captain and star player on the bench. Bruno has responded. Martinez has played well alongside Varane. I can't believe what I've just witnessed. It was just the effort difference.
"They've out-run and out-sprinted Liverpool. They've shown tonight they are capable of doing it (out-running teams). Football fans want fight, passion, heart, running, that they care. Those players tonight have done that and wow did they need it. It's been bad in the last 7-10 days."
However, it would now seem Ten Hag's letter of the law to tell one of his players to stop moaning is one of a number of things he has done to change the mindset of the squad. Fast forward 12 Premier League games and United sit just outside the top four, having won nine of their 15 matches in the league so far.
