How Nottingham Forest beat Manchester United for first time in ...

Just as he did when speaking to the BBC after the match, Erik ten Hag asserted to Sky Sports that injuries were to blame for United's struggles: "The players are not happy with this but we have to do better. We haven't played with the same team in a row. We had to change again so every time we have to swap our team. That doesn't help or support the routines of the team and it explains why you are so inconsistent.

"We had nine different partnerships in the back. It doesn't matter as well, the fans don't want to hear this, they want to see us winning and that is what we have to serve them."

On what the main issue is: "The injuries. Also some issues but mainly the injuries hold us back in the process. In January we have a lot of players returning so then our levels can be higher.

"Definitely (INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford) will see we have our problems. You want to build on the last result but we have to change our striker."

On speaking to the INEOS group: "It will happen. No doubt about that. We will work together to set high targets of course for achievements and structures, we will talk about that."