Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has confidence that his side are “in a good direction” despite recent poor performances in the league.

United won their opening match against Fulham but suffered back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Liverpool.

Ten Hag was asked about right-back Diogo Dalot voicing his exasperation that the club have improved in recent times regardless of their setbacks and he agreed.

“Of course when you see the scores, no-one is happy,” he said.

“But also players have a very good sense of the process, of the quality of the process. Yeah, and I agree with him.

“Also, when you analyse the games – all the games – so far, we are in a good direction.

“But also – as is normal in a transition period and in a period where you have to build a team – we have to improve. We have to step up.”

The Dutchman is in his third season at the club and will be looking for a marked improvement from the previous campaign when they recorded their worst ever position in the league as they finished eighth – eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Ten Hag was keen to praise his players and highlighted the belief he has in his squad: “We have good characters. You feel the team spirit and now it’s about getting the patterns and the routines in.

“Once we have that, everyone sees the quality we have on the training pitch.”