Erik ten Hag U-turns on Man Utd punishment with new approach to West Ham defeat

Erik ten Hag has given his Manchester United squad two days off after consecutive defeats in the Premier League. 

 The Red Devils suffered 1-0 losses to Brighton and West Ham in their last two games to leave their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League hanging in the balance. 

They are fourth in the table, one point clear of Liverpool in fifth with an outstanding game. 

  Ten Hag's decision will raise eyebrows, as the manager cancelled a planned day off and made his players run 13.8km the last time they suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats in August. 

Yet United's situation is different at this stage in the campaign. As reported by The Athletic, Ten Hag has recognised his players are tired having played 57 games already this term. 

He wants them to enjoy a break from their training ground to recharge the batteries ahead of a key month of football. 

  Ten Hag also has the breathing space to give his players some time off because Man United have a clear midweek for the first time since September, bar the World Cup in Qatar. 

Since that competition, United have played a game every 3.8 days on average. 

 "It’s the first time since Christmas that those players have a full week," Ten Hag told reporters after the West Ham defeat. 

"We have to reset, reload, get the energy back and keep going. "But tiredness is in your head. If you want, if you have the willingness, you can take it. It’s now up to the players, me and the coaching staff to be together, get the willingness in and the belief that we can take it and this team has it. 

 "You can’t feel sorry for yourself, as a team stick together, as an individual take responsibility, make sure you have the energy, you have the focus, then play as a team and you get a result because we have proof of that all season."

West Ham manager David Moyes added: "I feel for Man Utd, they had to play at Brighton on Thursday and now here on Sunday. I thought it took the edge out of Man Utd tonight, because of the games programme." 

 United need to win three of their last four Premier League games to qualify for the Champions League.