Louis van Gaal has told his Manchester United players to prepare themselves for more "boring'' meetings because he thinks they are working.
Van Gaal was in just as defiant a mood on Saturday night as he was on the eve of his team's morale-boosting 3-1 win over Liverpool.
The day after breaking into song mid-press conference to underline how he still had the support of his players and the fans, Van Gaal again poked fun at the stories of apparent unrest in the Old Trafford dressing room.
The United manager was at pains to point out that his team would not have taken the lead had they not planned and practiced the free-kick drill that led to Daley Blind's opener.
"I have to say the meetings about the set plays and the sessions about the set plays have paid off,'' he said. "So I am very happy because the first goal was the deciding goal.
"We have a lot of meetings, you know,'' Van Gaal added with a grin.
David De Gea had made a successful return to action, Anthony Martial scored a stunning goal on his debut and United recorded a big win over their most bitter rivals.
But Van Gaal was not totally happy with everything he saw on Saturday evening.
"As a manager you are never satisfied,'' he said. "The fans are very satisfied, the fans are very pleased with David De Gea for example, but I have a criticism for him and I am sorry I have to say that. And that's for all the players.
"I want to improve every individual, but because of that you also improve the team performance, which is what we are doing.
"It means a lot of meetings and a lot of training sessions. I have heard the words 'boring' and 'too rigid', but it is like that. I think that every player has to be very happy with his profession because he makes from his hobby his living. Then you have to show your professional attitude.''
Van Gaal said the players were "quiet'' when he addressed them after the win.
There was no chance of muting the celebrations earlier that evening when Martial picked the ball up on the left flank and turned Martin Skrtel twice before jabbing the ball past Simon Mignolet to complete the win.