A defiant Erik ten Hag made a shock claim following Manchester United's 4-0 thrashing by Crystal Palace on Monday night.
It was a night to forget for the Red Devils at Selhurst Park as a brace by Michael Olise as well as a goal apiece by Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell ensured United's 13th Premier League defeat this season – their most in a league campaign since 1989/90.
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The Manchester club has also now conceded 81 goals in all competitions this term, equalling the most they have let in in a single season since 1976/77.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the loss is considered by some to be an indictment on the manager, with many now calling for his sacking, including former Red devils star Michael Owen.
"I've said it for a long time that Ten Hag is not the right man for this job, I've been saying it for ages and ages," Owen told Premier League Productions after United’s defeat to Palace.
"He cannot, simply cannot, manage the team next season."
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However, when the question of whether or not he is the right man for the job was presented to Ten Hag himself on Monday night, the defiant Dutchman backed himself despite setting several unwanted records as manager this term.
Asked if he believes he is still the right person to lead United, Ten Hag said after the defeat to Palace, according to the Metro: "Absolutely.
"If the right players are there, so available, then we have a good squad. But we miss almost the full backline, then we have problems.
"... I will keep fighting. I prepared the team in the best way I could do.
"It was not good enough, I have to take responsibility for that, but I will find energy and prepare them for Sunday's game [against league leaders Arsenal].
"It's clear, it's obvious, this is underperforming. We didn't act how we wanted to and it's not good enough.
"We are very disappointed. Our fans were behind us and we should have kept fighting like the fans did.
"There are always reasons, everyone sees our backline, we have huge problems. At the end of the day, we have to deal with it and we should have done better."
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