Erik ten Hag admits being 'aggressive' towards Anthony Martial as Man Utd boss opens up on touchline argument with misfiring French forward

Martial had a difficult time stamping his authority on the game and was singled out by Ten Hag in the first half for his poor application. The United boss was seen visibly angry and shouting at the French striker before half time. He was substituted by the hour mark and after the game Ten Hag admitted he had to be aggressive.

Reflecting on the game, Ten Hag said: "It's not about Anthony Martial, it's about the team. I try to energise the team and try to get a reaction from the team in this moment. As you see, we had a tough period and when you're coaching you are a little more aggressive, so that's normal."

Ten Hag is correct in his assessment that his side are suffering a difficult period. Ten Hag's team are on the brink of Champions League elimination and struggling for form in the Premier League. Meanwhile, several high-profile players seem despondent with his management and are unlikely to feature for United again - at least while the Dutch manager is in charge.

Pressure is mounting rapidly on the United boss who desperately needs a victory over fellow strugglers, Chelsea, on Wednesday. United's next six games - Chelsea, Bournemouth, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, West Ham and Aston Villa - offer tricky reading and, without marked improvement, may spell danger for Ten Hag's position as United manager.