Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident Manchester United's fringe players will buy into a siege mentality fostered during a difficult week at Carrington.
United were on the end of some stinging criticism last week but responded with a win at Tottenham on Saturday, although there were plenty of big-name players unable to get on the pitch.
Solskjaer has a fully fit squad to pick from at the moment and some players are finding it hard to get game time, especially with the switch to a back three at Tottenham reducing the number of forwards in the team.
Mason Greenwood was an unused substitute at the Spurs' Stadium and Anthony Martial didn't even make the matchday squad.
Donny van de Beek hasn't played for the club since the Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham United more than a month ago and Jadon Sancho has been an unused substitute in the last two games.
"When you’ve got a fully fit squad at Man United there’s always going to be good quality players not playing," said Solskjaer.
"That’s been happening lately some players have had to have do with a place on the bench and you have to take your opportunities when you get it, and I can’t fault the attitude and motivation also has to come from within.
"That’s always going to happen at Man United players will go through difficult spells when they’re not playing and that’s when their character is revealed and I’m pleased with most of mine."
Solskjaer is confident that United's traumatic week will have fostered a siege mentality within his squad, something that will also be evident in those players who are waiting patiently for their opportunity.
United were hit by a barrage of criticism after the 5-0 defeat to Liverpool, but after a tough week they responded with a 3-0 win at Tottenham and Solskjaer is hoping it will have bought the squad closer together.
"It has to. When you’re at a place like this, we’ve got so many players and we don’t have time for anyone to sulk or not give energy to the team," he said.
"If you’re not in the starting XI you’re there to support your teammates and you come on and do your best when you come on if you don’t come on then what’s the single most important thing you can do to help the team? And the attitude was spot on.
"Yeah, I understand players want to play and nobody is happy when they don’t play. But the squad morale has been really good and it has to be really good. It can’t be that we’ve done one game now and then everyone is thinking about themselves it’s a team before any individual."
