Manchester United under-fire manager Erik Ten Hag came out fighting during a media grilling on Friday ahead of his faltering side's Premier League trip to Fulham.
The Dutchman has been under intense scrutiny after eight defeats from 15 matches in all competitions -- United's worst start to a season since 1962.
While fingers have been pointed at his under-performing squad, Ten Hag's tactics have also been criticised and some have suggested defeat at Craven Cottage could cost him his job.
Ten Hag, however, remains defiant and said the mood in the camp was to put things right after back-to-back 3-0 home losses to Manchester City and Newcastle United.
"They're positive and they want to put this right. We know the standards here and we have to make the standards every day," Ten Hag told reporters at United's training ground.
"We had two big setbacks. But this squad is strong, the staff is strong and this manager is strong to put this right."
Eighth-placed United have lost half their Premier League games and five of their first 10 home matches in all competitions.
"I'm convinced about the players in the dressing room," Ten Hag, who has spent 400 million pounds in the transfer market since taking over in the summer of 2022, said. "We have seen last year they can do a lot better.
"But that is up to me to let them play better and I take the responsibility for that and I will put every effort in to get this done. When players are available and return from injuries we will play better, definitely."
Ten Hag was asked about comments following the City defeat in which he appeared to suggest his United team could not play the passing style of his previous Ajax team.
He responded is feisty fashion.
"I thought the explanation (of my comments) from my point of view was totally wrong," said Ten Hag, who enjoyed an impressive first season at Old Trafford with a League Cup triumph and third place in the Premier League.
"I came here with my philosophy based on possession but also to combine it with the DNA of Manchester United and combine it with the players, the competencies and the characters of the players. Last season I think we played very good football.
"This season the philosophy is no different. No I don't want to play long balls. Yes, I want to play from the back as we did. I didn't buy Andre Onana to go for long balls.
"We want to press and we want to press from different blocks and then go direct because we have the players like Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford and Anthony and Bruno Fernandes."
Ten Hag accepted that his players were struggling to execute the game plan.
"We can't line up the same two or three games in a row," he said. "Every time we have to adjust and that doesn't help your routines. But I don't want to make excuses. We have to win and we have to be more pragmatic."
Fulham manager Marco Silva believes Ten Hag can handle the scrutiny ahead of their clash at Craven Cottage.
Silva highlighted the expectations which comes with managing a big club and backed ten Hag to resolve United's difficult position – the Red Devils are currently eighth in the Premier League.
"He had a very good impact last season, everyone recognised the impact he made at that football club," Silva said. "Some ups and downs can happen, they didn’t start so well but had a good run.
"As a manager, there is always pressure behind you and when you are in a bigger club the pressure is big.
"It’s not the first time he is in a big club, he was in a big club [Ajax] in the past as well and he knows how to handle the situation."
United will be without midfielder Casemiro on Saturday after he was ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring injury but defender Raphael Varane could return after illness.
The club said in a statement: "Casemiro will be out for several weeks due to a hamstring injury suffered during our Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United on Wednesday.
"The Brazilian midfielder was withdrawn at half-time due to the issue, and subsequent assessment has revealed a strain that will keep him out for a number of weeks."
On the matter of future investment at United, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has revealed he has spoken to Jim Ratcliffe about joining his bid to purchase a stake in the club.
Ratcliffe, is set to buy a 25% shareholding in the Old Trafford club, with the deal expected to see the 71-year-old billionaire have a significant say in sporting matters.
Ineos founder Ratcliffe, along with Wolff, 51, and Ola Kallenius own a third of the Mercedes Formula One team.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, Wolff, a close ally and business partner of Ratcliffe's, said: "Jim has shared the trajectory with me.
"I very much respect his values and we trust each other. If we felt it would make sense to be part of the investment group then I would certainly look at it."
Austrian Wolff bought a share in Williams in 2009 before leaving the British team to become an executive director of Mercedes four years later. He spearheaded the team's record of eight consecutive constructors' world championships between 2014 and 2021.
He added: "I have never aimed for trophy investments but I like the competitiveness of the Premier League.
"Jim and Manchester United is a love story because he is born there. Our personal relationship is strong and with Ola Kallenius, they call us the Three Amigos because we live in the no bulls*** world.
"If felt I could contribute then I would consider joining him at Manchester United."
