'Need everyone motivated' - how Man Utd and Spurs improve

At the beginning of a season, players set goals and long-term team objectives goals are spoken about. It doesn't matter whether it's survival, a trophy or top six - there are always visions.

When you are not meeting those targets, it is difficult to keep believing that you will achieve them.

Both Spurs and United will be disappointed in their season so far but also in how they have fought. Pride is so important and it is something that has always been there in the teams I've played in. Even if you lose motivation as a player, you should always have individual pride to play for.

The bare minimum you expect from these players is effort because they are playing at such big clubs. In United's case, that was there against Liverpool and Arsenal but there was less of it against Southampton and Brighton.

That is their biggest difficulty because you need everyone to be motivated and sometimes when things are not going well, one or two players can lose it and give up. That does not help the collective.

It is hard to pull people with you when there are only a few of you that are still motivated and driven to do better.

Results and momentum help confidence and belief to come back, which in turn re-motivates players. There are still enough league games to achieve this and a few wins can soon carry them up the table.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford