"It's just the third game in the season, we have to build a new team," Ten Hag said.

"I explained this so many times. We will build it. We have young players and players to build in. Today we had three players who started for the first time this season. We will be fine. It is clear we have to improve but at the end of the season I am confident we will have a big chance to lift another trophy."

Ten Hag was forced to substitute Casemiro at half-time after the Brazilian made two errors leading to goals for Luis Díaz.

New 50 million ($65.6m) signing Manuel Ugarte was watching from the stands after being presented on the pitch before kick-off and Ten Hag admitted the Uruguayan will need time to get up to speed.

"So this is another one, we have to build him into the team," he said.

"It will take time, so it's not like I'm Harry Potter. That is what you have to acknowledge. And if you see Manuel Ugarte, he didn't play so far in the season. Not one match minute. He needs to build his fitness and then we have to build him in the team."

A defiant Ten Hag also went on to reject a suggestion that his team continue to be punished for familiar mistakes.

"Maybe you can explain to me which mistakes," he replied.

"You are sure? I don't think so, otherwise you wouldn't win trophies as we have. I am sorry for you. I think we won after [Manchester] City the most trophies in English football in the last two years, so I am sorry for you.

"There are [positives] but I don't want to talk about this. It hurts, it hurts especially for our fans, we have to be humble and move on."