Barcelona sporting director Jordi Cruyff says Erik ten Hag was always going to suffer blips at Manchester United.

Cruyff, a former Manchester United and Ajax winger, was referring to United's 7-0 thrashing by Liverpool.

He told the Daily Mail: "It is part of the sport, when you are in a development phase.

"There will always be ups and downs and that is why it is important to keep your feet on the ground. There is no easy way. United have been looking for the right path for many years. Now it's a work in progress, but there are always ways to get better.

"First you have to create faith and get hope back, and I think he has absolutely done that.

"And believed him. It hasn't been easy. United have been waiting for this moment for many years, and many times it has felt like: 'Yes!'

"But then it didn't turn out the way people wanted. I think you can now feel that there is a belief and that people are ready to give it time and understand that there will be 'ups and downs'.

"You can feel that people are proud to be a United fan. I think it's about bringing hope back to the club - the same thing that happened at Barça."