Nemanja Matic says Manchester United supporters "deserve much, much better" from their side following Saturday's bruising 4-2 loss against Leicester City.
United conceded four times in a Premier League match for the first time since April 2019 as their English record of 29 successive away league games unbeaten came to an end at the King Power Stadium.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have collected only one point from the last nine on offer and are fifth in the table after eight matches, five points adrift of leaders Chelsea, with Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City up next.
Matic played 80 minutes of the defeat to Leicester and remains confident United can still challenge for the title, but the former Serbia international accepts a vast improvement is needed heading into a tough run of games.
"We are sorry for [the supporters]," he told United's official website. "They support us, especially away and they are top. They deserve much, much better than this.
"We will do our best to make them happy in the future. But we have 14 points – we are still in the title race. We don't want to give up until the end."
United have now lost three successive games against Leicester in all competitions for the first time since November 1901, having also been defeated 2-1 in their most recent league meeting prior to Saturday and 3-1 in last term's FA Cup quarter-final.
In a thrilling encounter at the King Power Stadium, Youri Tielemans and Caglar Soyuncu put Leicester ahead after Mason Greenwood had opened the scoring with a spectacular opener.
Marcus Rashford equalised for United on his first appearance since the Euro 2020 final, but Jamie Vardy restored City's lead just 54 seconds later and Patson Daka bundled in a fourth in stoppage time to seal the points.
In doing so, Daka became the first Zambian player to score in the Premier League, making it 105 different nationalities to have now netted in the competition.
Matic, who has appeared eight times for United in all competitions this season, had no complaints about the scoreline and called for unity.
The defeat and recent form means pressure is inevitably building on boss Solskjaer.
"They created a lot of chances. So we have to be honest; we have to say that they deserved to win," Matic said. "One minute after scoring [to make it 2-2] we conceded the third goal. Of course, the frustration was there.
"But sometimes you have to say when the opponent was better, and to see where we can improve, what we have to do better. I'm sure our team is much better than this."
Matic, who has emerged as a rumoured transfer target for Barcelona, added: "Everyone is sad, everyone is with their head down at the moment. But when you play for Man United, if you don't win the game of course you are disappointed, but we have to stick together."
Atalanta in the Champions League is the next test for United. Ahead of that game on Wednesday, Matic said: "It's also going to be hard. We are very disappointed, but I think that, in the future, we will show we are much better than this.
"Every next game is the most important; every next game is a new challenge, an opportunity to show your qualities. We're going to take responsibility; we're going to step up and see what we can do. I'm sure that we can do a lot."
Courtois to miss Germany friendly due to adductor injury
Thibaut Courtois will miss Belgium's friendly against Germany on Tuesday due to an adductor injury.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper withdrew from the Red Devils squad on Sunday after sustaining a minor strain.
Courtois played in the Red Devils' 3-0 victory over Sweden in their opening Euro 2024 Group F qualifying match at Friends Arena on Friday.
The former Chelsea keeper will not face Germany in Cologne, though, after returning to Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping Courtois is fit when Los Blancos return to action against Real Valladolid in LaLiga next Sunday.
Romelu Lukaku's hat-trick ensured Belgium started Domenico Tedesco's reign as head coach with a resounding victory over Sweden in Solna.
Odegaard questions lack of penalty after controversial Rodri challenge
Martin Odegaard is "pretty sure" he should have won a penalty for Norway against Spain after a fierce challenge from Rodri.
The Norway captain was wiped out inside the area by the Spain midfielder in an incident that sparked debate regarding the ongoing battle for the Premier League title.
There would have undoubtedly been winces at Arsenal having seen the Manchester City man clatter into their skipper, with the two sides going toe-to-toe to finish top of the league this season.
Despite the heavy challenge, no foul was awarded and that left Odegaard confused, though he stopped short of questioning the officials due to concern he would be issued with sanctions.
"I'm pretty sure I should have had a penalty. He's coming with his studs right on my ankle. But I'm sure I'll get punished [if I say any more]," he told TV2.
"I don't bother saying anything else about the referee. It's better not to say anything."
While Odegaard held back in his assessment, Norway head coach Stale Solbakken did not hold back on an incident he felt could have changed the course of the game.
"It is a clear penalty. He finishes the shot and you can't [foul him after]," he said.
"If I knock someone down after the ball is gone, then it's a penalty. I get a little bored of this.
"What I see here now [on the replay] is exactly what I saw from the bench. There was a bit of arrogance going on. That’s the way it is, but it's unbelievable."
Elanga 'frustrated' with lack of Man Utd action but not dwelling on potential Barca move
Anthony Elanga has expressed his frustration over a lack of playing time with Manchester United and suggested he could have joined Barcelona in January.
The Sweden winger has made only seven starts for the Red Devils this season, while he has been introduced as a substitute on 17 occasions.
Elanga was linked with the likes of LaLiga leaders Barca and Premier League strugglers Everton during the last transfer window, but a move did not materialise.
Asked about a potential switch to Camp Nou at the start of the year, he told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet: "That was in January, I can't focus on that now.
"The best thing I can do is focus on the rest of the season and then I will get to talk to the club.
"I love the club, but it's important for me to play. I'm still young. We have spoken to the club and they know what is required and I know what is required."
The 20-year-old hopes United boss Erik ten Hag gives him more opportunities and is determined to take his chances when they come along.
He added: "It is frustrating. You want to play, it's important. But whether you play or not, it's up to the coach not me. I have spoken to Erik [ten Hag] and it is private between the two of us. I know what he wants me to do and I just keep training hard.
"When the opportunity comes, I just have to be ready to take it. We have a lot of conversations, not only about [his lack of opportunities] but also what is happening around. That's the good thing about the club, we talk a lot and they help me a lot."
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