Erik ten Hag is willing to give his Manchester United players a ‘kick in the a**’ to get the best out of them ahead of facing rivals Liverpool.
United have lost 12 of their 24 matches so far this season and are already out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
Back-to-back defeats to Bournemouth and Bayern Munich has increased the pressure on Ten Hag and the players to turn things around.
The form of too many high performers has dropped off, with forward Marcus Rashford a prime example having scored 30 club goals last term and just two this season.
Asked what kind of approach he believes would get the best out of the forward, Ten Hag underlined the need to choose the right method for the right player.
«I think any player almost, sometimes it's arm around the shoulder, sometimes a kick in the a***,» Ten Hag said.
«And then I think that makes a difference in the management, so when are you taking which approach? The kick in the a*** or arm around the shoulder?»
United were thrashed 7-0 at Anfield in March and have to go back there on Sunday, but Ten Hag has faith in his team.
«I always have (belief),» Ten Hag said. «When I go to any game, I have the strong belief I am going to win. I will prepare the team in that way — that we are going to win.
»And why? Because it's based on our rules and principles in the game, and it's based on our game plan and then a strong belief in the quality of my players."
Pushed on what he has seen in particular ahead of Liverpool, he said: «I see the quality on the pitch, on the training pitch.
»But the only moment you have to prove it is in the games, isn't it?
«This team proved this in certain games — when they have been under high pressure, they played very good football.
»But also we have our lows,
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