Bruno Fernandes insisted that Manchester United can find positives in their 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City.
Despite investing heavily over the summer, United have made a slow start to the season, taking just four points from four games.
They produced another disjointed performance at the Etihad on Sunday as they faced City, and were beaten after goals from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland.
Speaking at full-time, Fernandes said United had to focus on the better aspects of their performance.
“No it's not hard [to find positives],” he told Sky Sports. “You have to look at what we did well and it's not enough because you want to win football games.
“What we did today was not enough to get a result and that's what we'll take from this game. Obviously, look at what we have to do better and look to the next game.”
The result leaves head coach Ruben Amorim under more pressure than ever. The Portuguese has now taken just eight wins from 31 Premier League matches in charge of United, tasting defeat on 16 occasions.
In spite of that record, Fernandes feels United are showing some signs of progress: "The result is very bad, very bad on us but I think it's two ways of looking at this game.
“The goals could have been avoided. On the ball, we were very positive, very brave, we were playing the ball forward. When we created chances we could have been more clean.
"We wanted what City got and that's the three points. City were smart to get the goals in the way they did, they have a very good team and good players."
He continued, explaining exactly where United fell short on derby day: "We need to score goals and not concede.
“We keep creating chances but were not able to score as much as we wanted. We have to be more in control. We conceded three goals we could have avoided.
"When we go we have to take more risks and be more brave with the last line.”
United return to action on Saturday, hosting Chelsea at Old Trafford as they look to get back to winning ways.
