Erik ten Hag has cautioned Manchester United fans that his team is not fully prepared for the upcoming season.
United begins their new campaign against Fulham on Friday night at Old Trafford, but Ten Hag believes his squad is not fully ready due to many players being away at the Copa America and Euro 2024. However, he maintains that his team is clear on how they will play and that they will adhere to these principles.
“It’s true, it’s not the pre-season where in five to six weeks we work on a team, it’s very complicated,” said the United manager. “We had the USA tour squad, then we added the players from the Euros and Copa America, and now with the new signings, we have to build a team from that.
“That team is not ready, but the league starts, and many managers face this issue. Still, we have some space, we have some principles, and we have to begin. We can’t hide, we have to manage it.”
Ten Hag, who confirmed that new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui are in the squad for the Fulham match, emphasized that United must avoid dropping points before reaching full form. “We’re complete, and we’ve been working together for 10 days; it will always take some time,” he said.
“There will be more teams with this problem. At the start of the season, don’t drop points; work hard, ensure you’re organized both in and out of possession. We’re not at 100 percent form, but we have to go from game to game, improving and raising performance levels in the team and individual players. We’ll see how quickly we can progress with this process.”
Ten Hag remains confident about United’s prospects after the club invested £150 million on four new signings, stating that they aim to win more trophies. Having already secured the FA and Carabao Cups in his first two seasons, Ten Hag said, “Our expectations are always very high, we want to compete for trophies.
“We know our goals, we know our direction. Now we have to integrate the new players where we believe they can elevate the team’s level and build from there.”
United fans are frustrated that Luke Shaw is injured again after being out since February and then playing in Euro 2024 with England, but Ten Hag is more composed. He reassures that Shaw’s current injury is not serious and that he will return soon.
Shaw is sidelined with a calf injury, and United expects his return next month after the first international break. “He will return in the short term; it won’t take long,” said Ten Hag. “We’re looking forward, of course, to having Luke Shaw back. He’s a very important player for our team, so we want to get him back as soon as possible, but we can’t rush this process.” Erik ten Hag has acknowledged that Manchester United is not fully prepared for the upcoming Premier League season, largely due to the disruptions caused by players’ involvement in the Copa America and Euro 2024. Despite the challenges, Ten Hag remains optimistic, emphasizing the importance of sticking to the team’s principles and avoiding early-season slip-ups. He highlighted the complexities of integrating returning players and new signings like Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, who are set to feature in the season opener against Fulham.
Ten Hag stressed that while the squad is not at peak form, they must focus on staying organized and working hard to improve with each game. He remains confident in the club’s ambitions, especially after investing £150 million in new signings, and reiterated United’s commitment to competing for trophies, having already won the FA and Carabao Cups during his tenure.
Regarding injuries, Ten Hag addressed concerns over Luke Shaw, who is sidelined with a calf injury. He reassured fans that Shaw’s injury is not serious and expects him to return after the first international break next month. Despite the setbacks, Ten Hag is determined to manage the situation and build towards a successful season.
