David De Gea says improvements are needed across the board as the goalkeeper endures his "most difficult time" at Manchester United while while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took full responsibility from another poor result.
The Red Devils slumped to a 1-0 loss at embattled Newcastle, where 19-year-old Matty Longstaff's goal on his Premier League debut sent the visitors into a tailspin.
It is now 11 matches in all competitions since Manchester United last tasted victory on the road, with the side entering the international break 12th after managing two wins from their eight league games.
De Gea, who signed a new deal with the club last month, is at a loss about the state of affairs at Old Trafford.
Asked how United can put things right and what is missing, the Spain goalkeeper told Sky Sports: "Everything.
🤔 David, what's missing from this Man United side at the moment?
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 6, 2019
😲 "Everything. A lot of things to improve. I don't know what to say."
At least David de Gea is honest! #MUFC pic.twitter.com/omEBfy9wOf
"A lot of things to improve. I don't know what to say. Just keep trying, keep fighting, keep improving every day.
"It's a hard moment for us, a difficult moment but we're United, we need to keep fighting."
De Gea also admitted this was as tough as he had known it at United since moving to Old Trafford in 2011, saying: "Yes, it probably is the most difficult time since I've been here.
"I don't know (why it is tougher than before). I don't know what is happening, we cannot score even one goal in two games. It's difficult to say something, sorry to the fans, we will keep fighting for sure, we will come back, but at the moment we are in a difficult situation."
Things do not get any easier for United as table-topping Liverpool arrive at Old Trafford after the international break.
De Gea added: "I think we defended quite well, it's true that they had good chances to score but, come on, we concede a goal from a corner for us, and that cannot happen. It's not acceptable.
"Not just this game, the whole season has been not good, so keep going, keep fighting, and let's see what happens in the next games."
Solskjaer refuses to make excuses
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists the absence of senior players is "no excuse".
He said on Sky Sports: "We're disappointed, of course we are. We do lack quite a few key players but that's no excuse now. The players work hard, they ran their socks off, at the moment we're in a position we're not used to.
"Some of them lack that little bit of composure and confidence in the last bit, and you can tell. We don't create enough chances to win a game of football."
He added: "The first half was very poor, that's the poorest we've been. Second half we dominated but we didn't create enough."
Asked what the solution is, the former United striker said: "That's the million dollar question. Luckily for us it's now the international break and we have time to evaluate what's been going on the first eight games. Many other games have been very similar.
"It's my responsibility. I need to sort the heads out, that's the main thing, because young boys maybe lacking confidence they need some help from the experienced players and the staff."
Solskjaer refused to give a timescale on how long it might take to get United back on track, but vowed "we'll get there".
He added: "It will take however long it will have to take. It's a journey that we've started on, and the culture is getting there. It's a delight to work with the lads. I can't give you any time but we'll get there.
"We've given ourselves a big, big uphill task to get among the top four, never mind the top six, this season, but it's tight and we've just got to get a run together and get the confidence back in the boys."
Asked if those at the top at United understood that it would take time to turn things around, Solskjaer said: "Yeah, we've come together and discussed the direction we're going.
"We'll have these days, we have these downs. Disappointing but we'll keep on working and we know where we want to get to."
Bruce praises Longstaff
Steve Bruce saluted Matty Longstaff's impressive debut after seeing him fire Newcastle to their first home victory of the season.
The 19-year-old, who lined up alongside older brother Sean in the Magpies' midfield, smashed home a 73rd-minute winner to cap a perfect day at St James' Park.
In the process, he handed Bruce his first win over the club for which he played with such distinction as a manager.
Bruce said: "It's quite ironic. Matty Longstaff's beaten them in his first game and I've been going 20-odd years. I'm delighted for everyone concerned, and of course the response was the great thing.
"When it fell to him - he blasted one in here against St-Etienne [in pre-season] in exactly the same position, and we've seen him in training.
"'Surely not', was the call, but he smashed it in the net. It was great."
Bruce went back to basics after last weekend's 5-0 drubbing at Leicester, but boosted by the return from injury of lively winger Allan Saint-Maximin and the energy provided by the Longstaff brothers, saw his team turn in a vastly improved display just when they needed it most.
The win was thoroughly deserved as the visitors, who failed to muster a shot on target against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday evening, once again proved blunt in attack and were made to pay for it by the younger Longstaff.
Head coach Bruce said: "He trains every day with a big, beaming smile on his face, he's refreshing, wants to play, he's a great kid and I'm delighted.
"Typical of him, the first thing he said to me coming off was 'Thank you'. It's ridiculous after what he's just done."
If Bruce was thrilled to have taken the wind out of the sails of some of his critics, opposite number Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cut a frustrated figure as he assessed the wreckage of a defeat which left his team in 12th place in the table, 15 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
The Norwegian said: "We have given ourselves a very, very tough task to get into the top six, never mind top four, and we've got to get results straight away.
"We need to get on a run, get momentum. I can't give you what's acceptable - every game should be one that we should look to win at this club."
Things might have been different had defender Harry Maguire buried a free header on the stroke of half-time - but his manager did not attach too much blame to the £80million summer signing.
The former United striker said: "Yes, but that's football. I missed bigger chances, seriously.
"If you're 2-0 up and your team is winning every game, he'll close his eyes and score on that one. At the moment, it's just not going for us and Harry knows he could have, should have scored.
"We know it's a big opportunity, a big moment in the game."
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