Erik ten Hag explains why Man Utd are 'heading in right direction' ahead of festive schedule
- Man Utd have won four of their last five Premier League games
- Red Devils have faced immense criticism but continue to produce results
- Newcastle, Chelsea, Liverpool & Tottenham all on the schedule for the festive period
By Tom Gott
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes the positivity in his squad is growing after a run of four wins in their last five Premier League games.
Victories over Brentford and Sheffield United kicked off October and, after defeat to rivals Manchester City, Ten Hag's side bounced back with consecutive wins against Fulham and Luton Town before the international break.
Such a run of form has left United sixth in the Premier League table, seven points behind leaders City, and defies claims that the Red Devils are in a crisis after a series of underwhelming performances.
"We are, say, one third [through the season]," Ten Hag told beIN SPORTS (via club media). "It was a tough start, as we've seen, but I think we are catching up. And from the last five games we've won four. So we are in a good mood and I think we are [heading] in the right direction.
"So, before we go into that intense programme in December, I think we're building and we're building confidence. We're building strong belief, and we're building also some routines.
"And now we hope we can more or less stay with the same lineup or with 12 to 14 players, while constructing the lineup, because I think so far that was our difficulty. Every time we had to change and we don't develop routines. Every time we had to change."
Despite picking up so many points, Ten Hag urged his players to stay focused and avoid getting carried away.
"Well, I'm sure there's more to come, but still it's a good, good sign," he continued. "It's a good sign that we are progressing.
"But, also, you see that our competitors are also dropping points and there are no easy games in the Premier League and everyone will drop points at a certain point. So, make sure you get consistency in and don't look too much at all the noise in the background, as they will also drop points."
United close out November with a trip to face Everton on Sunday and have a tough winter schedule on the horizon.
Ten Hag's side must face Newcastle United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa in December, while Tottenham Hotspur are also on the agenda in January.
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