Erik ten Hag has faced plenty of criticism in recent weeks

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has jumped to the defence of Erik ten Hag prior to the key Premier League match with Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

The Scotland international explained that ‘it comes down to the players on the pitch,’ to win a football game, and the pressure shouldn’t all be on the manager.

Ten Hag has defended his team aplenty in the media, especially in the past week, and the Scottish midfielder has done the same for his boss prior to the clash with the Cottagers.

Speaking to TNT Sports prior to kick-off, McTominay said:

“It comes down to the players on the pitch, that’s what it’s always been about in football. A manager can’t win you football games, it’s the boys who are playing.

“Obviously there are tactics and stuff like that but the message is to go and fight, go and show yourself and have a bit of personality about yourself today.”

United go in to today’s game on the back of consecutive 3-0 defeats, something that has been a rarity for this club over the years.

And when asked where he and the dressing room are at mentally going into today, McTominay added:

“When you’re playing for Man United there’s no time to rest. You can’t dwell on previous games or think that we’re in a bad run.

“We have to block out the outside noise and go for it and whatever happens, happens and just make sure when you come off that pitch you’ve done everything to win a game”