Every word from Erik ten Hag press conference part two ahead of Everton v Man Utd

The great United sides of the past, winning titles coming out of their ears and [being] European champions and everything else. For all they do and for as well as they used to play, they always used to say that the first thing they had to do was win the fight, to earn the right to play football. You’re going to have to fight with these three games on the run like never before. Everton – who are in this mess – then Galatasaray and Newcastle are all going to come for you. Have you got enough fighters, I know you have said you have never doubted the footballing ability, but have you got enough fighters and fighting spirit in this squad?
”That is just what we have emphasized upon in the last few games. Firstly, get into the fight. When you don’t have a left full-back, when you don’t have a right winger and you have to swap your team. Maybe the routines are not 100 per cent working. But make sure you get the foundations by getting into the fight. Make sure you run as hard as your opponent, you cover each other and [you have] quick reactions. That gives you a foundation because our players are very good, they have a lot of skills and a lot of abilities. So their football is always in there. Once we have our mindset clear and bright, and we are in that fight, we will find our moments where we can do brilliant things. [That’s] because our players as as a group are capable of doing that and I think we have seen that in the last couple of games. That’s why we have won four out of the last five.”

I know what you are saying and I know you have had to put a midfielder at left-back and the fact that a player is running for 90 minutes, you can’t doubt that. But you can stick Paula Radcliffe in and she will run for 90 minutes, but will she be able to stand up to a midfield battle, that’s what I mean in terms of a fight, someone who will square up to you. You’ve got to have your Keane’s, Robson’s of the past. Have you got those players or do you think your message has got through to them, as well as the talent?
”I think the last game showed their personality of the team. You have seen that the players stood up and they took the responsibility, they worked for the team, they were organising the team. That was the way we got results.”