Repetition in interviews can often irk fans of clubs who have just suffered heavy losses. Manchester United fans felt this often last season.
And they would be forgiven for feeling listless once more after hearing Erik ten Hag again roll out the word “unacceptable” and lament his side’s poor start following Sunday’s 6-3 reality check against Manchester City, harking back to memories of the excuses at Brentford earlier in the season.
But a recurrent tune isn’t always a monotonous sound. The weekend’s defeat is different to the 4-0 drubbing to Brentford in many ways. And, just as United’s mini and belated second-half revival was mildly encouraging, so were some of the post-match comments from key figures.
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To Ten Hag, the diagnosis was “quite simple”. “Today they didn't bring the belief,” he said. "I am very disappointed, especially at the lack of belief. I didn't expect it.”
“When you don't believe on the pitch then you can't win games, that is unacceptable. We get undisciplined at following rules and you get hammered, that's happened today.”
Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen both agreed with their manager. The former reasoned that the poor display was down to "attitude and the belief” while the latter admitted "we missed a bit of courage.”
The fact that squad members are on the same page as their manager at least eliminates the problem that Ralf Rangnick spoke of last season. It makes the recovery process much easier and smoother too.
Ten Hag scheduled a team meeting for Monday following the defeat to the champions and this “lack of belief” will undoubtedly be addressed. It’s a shortfall that Ten Hag will tell them has only one solution: winning.
A result against Omonia in Thursday’s Europa League tie in several ways is not the ideal fixture to rebuild confidence. Hardly a banana skin, United are expected to walk to three points and it will be evident during the game what Ten Hag told his players on Monday.
He will be faced with the choice of whether to rotate and raise the risk of an upset away from home or play a strong side and ensure United’s morale does not sink lower. It’ll be Sunday’s game with Everton that Ten Hag will be eyeing.
United fell to a 1-0 loss at Goodison Park in April, a result that prompted a further four losses in their final seven matches of the season. A strong showing against the Toffees, who are now seven matches unbeaten and a potential banana skin, will go a long way to healing the wounds.
It’s worth remembering United are currently only two points away from the top four. United face a home clash with Tottenham and a trip to Chelsea this month, matches that could be instrumental in refuelling their belief for a top four charge.
The visit to Stamford Bridge in particular will allow United to right the wrongs of the Etihad, their second trip away to a top six side. But in the meantime, the games against Omonia, Everton and then Newcastle will detail what Ten Hag told his players on Monday.
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