Erik ten Hag had a heated exchange with a Mail Sport reporter while defending his team after their 3-0 loss to Liverpool.

The Red Devils were outplayed by their arch-rivals on a tough day at Old Trafford, with Luis Diaz scoring twice and Mohamed Salah adding a third, capping off a disappointing performance from the home team.

After the match, a determined Ten Hag stood by his squad, asserting that they have “players to build on this season,” that his side “will be fine,” and that they still have a “big chance to lift another trophy” by the season’s end, though he acknowledged the need for improvement.

Following Ten Hag’s remarks, Mail Sport’s football editor Ian Ladyman questioned the Dutchman, asking why he was so confident that “it’s the players who are the problem and not your coaching.”

Ten Hag shot back, “So, what do you mean? Tell me then, maybe you can explain to me which mistakes we make regularly?”

Ladyman then listed the mistakes that United make, as he said: ‘Constantly turning over the ball in your own half, playing the ball out from the back, getting mugged, chances coming off the back of it, counter attacks where you are outnumbered, giving up endless chances.’

Ten Hag asked if Ladyman was ‘sure’ to which the Mail Sport reporter affirmed ‘absolutely’.

The Dutchman then added: ‘I don’t think otherwise we would win trophies as we did and to beat big opponents so I am sorry for you.’

Ladyman then pointed out: ‘With the greatest respect you did brilliantly against Manchester City in the final, you almost lost to Coventry in the semi-final I mean come on let’s have a realistic view of what happened.’