United hoped to solve their problems by signing Gary O’Driscoll from Arsenal as their intact clinical boss twelve months ago.
But that hasn’t happened and Ten Hag knows his team will try to stick to their goal until a solution is found.
“We need more players available frequently,” he said. “At this point we all have to work together: the players, the coaching staff and all the rest of the staff.
“We need to do better because we know that when we have them we are a very difficult team to play against and we can be a real success.”
United arrive at the London Stadium in 12th place in the Premier League, and now 21st in the expanded Europa League, after a run of three away draws and a home win over Brentford in the four games since the chaotic home defeat to Tottenham on September 29 which led to intense speculation over Ten Hag’s future.
Since they lost that match, United’s draw with Fenerbahce means they have won once in seven matches in all competitions.
Had they emerged victorious, they would have had an unbeaten streak of nine, their longest since the early months of 2023.
The recent sequence of away draws is worthy of credit given that they represent their two toughest Europa League games and a trip to high-flying Aston Villa, when they had one less day to prepare.
Now they face a West Ham side hurt by their loss in the London derby against Tottenham, who has had a whole week for coach Julen Lopetegui to resolve their problems.
Ten Hag remembers that defeat to Tottenham, when his team were completely outplayed but only a goal down when Bruno Fernandes was sent off at the end of the first half, only for the decision to be ruled incorrect and the suspension later overturned by a disciplinary panel. – and stated that the circumstances make it unfair to judge his players.
“I repudiate that recreation,” he said. “I forget about that game against Spurs because they reduced us to ten and the red card was annulled.
“It is not a fair assessment of the team to take this into account, because we did not have the opportunity to recover. Of course, it was a difficult first half, but in that period we also remember some very good opportunities.
“But you can see that this team is resilient and motivated. Against Brentford and in difficult away games, this team has shown personality, fighting spirit and guts to win games.”
