Luke Shaw deemed the performance against Newcastle United on Sunday "unacceptable" and Ten Hag concurred with the left-back that the Magpies were "more determined, more passionate," and had "more desire."
Manchester United's midfield was found wanting on Sunday at St James' Park, where Newcastle capitalized on a meek team display to secure a deserved 2-0 victory.
"We had a very bad performance because the opponent wanted it more than we did,” Erik Ten Hag said. “They were sharper."
“You can see that in the challenges – we won only 16 from 61 challenges in offence and in defence the opponent beats us 48 from 78 challenges. Then you can’t win a game.”
After the defeat at Newcastle and Tottenham's Monday point at Everton, Manchester United has only won three of their last nine Premier League games and has dropped to fifth.
Since defeating Eddie Howe's Magpies to win the Carabao Cup in late February, they haven't won a match in the top division, but Ten Hag shrugged down suggestions that his team was suffering from a post-Wembley hangover.
“We played 60 minutes against Southampton with 10 men,” he said. “We beat Fulham (in the FA Cup) – that’s a Premier League opponent.
“We beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup, it’s a Premier League opponent, so no concern. We know we can beat Premier League teams.”
Manchester United will try to defeat Brentford to return to winning ways in the league after being defeated 4-0 in the rematch in August, which was Ten Hag's second game in command.
Following that defeat, Luke Shaw was temporarily benched, but under Ten Hag, he developed into a key member of the team. On Tuesday, the left-back was given a new four-year contract.
“I think it’s a good message (that he’s here for his peak years),” the United boss said of the 27-year-old defender.
“An England international, he’s doing really well this season, really happy with him. I think he’s a modern left full-back but can also play other positions like left centre-back."
“He matches absolutely the standards we want to have, so a very good message.”
Christian Eriksen's ankle injury appears to be healing quickly now that the playmaker is back in team practice, according to United manager Erik ten Hag.
The 31-year-old has made a name for himself at Old Trafford since joining on a free move in the summer after a fruitful loan at Wednesday's opponents Brentford.
Before being sidelined in January due to an unsportsmanlike challenge by Andy Carroll in the FA Cup match against Reading, Eriksen made 31 appearances and was practically always visible.
United made a loan transfer for Marcel Sabitzer, a defender for Bayern Munich, on the final day before the deadline because they anticipated being without Eriksen until late April or early May.
Eriksen, however, has made remarkable improvement and looks to be making an early return to action.
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