"Apart from Mourinho, the manager didn't get the players they wanted, and that is what you need,"' Ten Hag told ESPN Brasil.
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"I am confident we will achieve our goals, but it is a tough competition (the Premier League). It is not a two-horse race anymore.
"There are seven, eight who all go for the title, who all have very good squads. So, if you want to go to the title, you have to construct that squad."
He also said: "You need outstanding players.
"Otherwise, you are in a process and you have to be patient. That is where we are now.
"We went for players who have high potentials, and we have to develop them, as individuals and as a team. But you need patience with the process."