Erik ten Hag says it's 'clear' Man Utd must win games to keep Sir Jim Ratcliffe & INEOS's faith after disappointing start to season

If a last-minute goal to lose to Brighton wasn't bad enough, United's opening weeks of the season took a disastrous turn when they lost 3-0 to fierce rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford. Ten Hag has had the international break to recoup and try to work things out ahead of the return to domestic action.

This was the first summer after INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe took a stake in the club. Their first decision was to keep the Dutchman, but with only three points after three games, the pressure is already mounting on the United manager, who says it's "clear" the Red Devils need to start winning.

Ten Hag said: “In football you have to win, you have to deliver, that’s clear. It’s good that the new leadership acknowledge this and says this. We are working together to be more successful and we have higher targets than we’ve already achieved. It’s not only to do with me. Nobody can deny in these last eight or nine months a lot has happened to this club. There's a new leadership team, a new structure and ownership structure, a new leadership team - a huge turnaround, I would say. But we have to win all the games and that will always be the approach. It doesn't change for any game."

United face Southampton on Saturday, with the newly-promoted Saints yet to pick up a point. It's a good opportunity for Ten Hag to build some positivity but if he is unable to get anything other than three points, the Dutchman will face even more pressure.