Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has rejected criticism of his players after defeat at Tottenham.

Former United captain Roy Keane slammed the players after the 2-0 loss, declaring them "easy to play against".

"It's about keeping the belief," Ten Hag insisted. "I think always you find arguments to give an explanation for a performance but I don't see it in that way.

"I think the team [stuck] together. They didn't collapse, they [kept] fighting, we created chances. I refer to that big chance from Antony [where he hit the post].

"We had some really good attacks and their keeper had some good saves for them. So I don't see that in that way [that Spurs dominated the second half].

"I know how we have to reply on counter-attacks [when you go behind].

"And of course you take more risks once you have to score a goal. Then your opponents can drop deep and and go quickly out.

"But we have some rules and I think we are quite comfortable for the whole game, that part. I think when you oversee everything, I think we created more chances, many more chances than Spurs did."