Erik ten Hag vowed his Manchester United side will keep improving after a late winner from Bruno Fernandes secured a 1-0 win over Fulham.
Fernandes struck in the 91st minute to give the under pressure ten Hag a much needed victory following back-to-back defeats to rivals Manchester City and then Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
And ten Hag told former United defender and TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand after the game that he believes the victory was a step forward for his side.
“I’m sure we can (climb the table). I’m sure we will improve and if we get some players back (from injury),” he said.
“I think today was a solid performance and you see a base, the foundation where we can improve on.
“I always want to improve the process then the points will come. But sometimes you have to go more pragmatic and that is what we did the last weeks.
“But today I think it was also an improvement in performance.”
United have lost five of their opening 11 Premier League games this season, leading to criticism of ten Hag’s style of play.
But the United boss insists injuries have played a part in his team’s disappointing start, which he says have forced him to adopt a more pragmatic approach.
“Everyone knows why. Because we have so many injuries,” he said.
“Every time you have to swap, you have to make changes, the routines are not there.
“That is what you see at this moment in our team. Then you have to be more pragmatic but I also always said, it’s not an excuse to not win games.
“Even when players are not available, the quality is there also today and in all the games. They are good players but they have to play many more games with each other in the same line-up.
“Then you get the routines in and then we can play better.”
