Erik Ten Hag full interview text 🎙️
Manchester United manager, Erik Ten Hag have been speaking to the media ahead of Saturday's clash with arch rivals Liverpool.
"We have to prepare for the season, but we understand that we have to give a performance and that we represent our club and that we represent Premier League football here. So we have to find the right balance in this."
Ten Hag asked if Jadon Sancho will stay as a false nine
"I think we have to assess next week where we are, and they are in two very different situations. Jadon is in a pre-season, in the tour. Joshua had played in the Euros, then had his break and now started training in this week. So next week we have to assess those [striker options] and we will pick a team that's capable to win the cup in the last game [of pre-season] against Manchester City."
ETH on wether to expect new signings
“Every club has those limitations. The FFP rules for every club is there. Also, we have to manage this and go with those rules. We have to manage it as good as possible to construct the best squad possible.”
ETH on plan for players not with the squad in USA
“Alejandro [Garnacho] will already, tomorrow [Friday], start training. Licha [Martínez] will start on Monday so I have it in my mind, and that there is a plan and the need for every player in the off-season. We know every player where they are fitness-wise, and next week, we have to bring everything together.”
“We play him [Scott McTominay] in a more advanced position, which suits him much better. He is so important in making goals for our team and I'm very pleased to work with him and have him in our squad.”
Ten Hag on Rashford
"We're not robots. They're human beings and not everyone is at their best all the time. The season before last he scored 30 goals. He's got massive potential."
Ten Hag on potential departure of the vice captain
"Casemiro? He is a very important player. He is a leader and he can make the difference for our team. For instance, in the previous season, he was so important to achieve all the success we had there. So when he is on this level, he is a very impactful player for us.”
Erik Ten Hag on injuries sustained by Rashford & Antony during our last outing
"We have to wait - Of course, we don’t go into risk, into the last game of the tour, going into the season next week already, into an important game [against Manchester City]. We are still within the 24 hours after a game, so the final assessment we have to make and we will see if they are ready for the final game on Saturday against Liverpool.”
Ten Hag on whether injuries will change transfer plans
"No, it won't change anything. We have a plan and we're sticking to it."
Ten Hag on the relationship with the management
"When you have a very strong, very solid bond, it gives you confidence, assurance. In the dressing room too, they feel that, they feel this confidence that is installed in the dressing room and on the pitch."
Ten Hag on his contract
"I think two years in football is already a lot and in two years we will see what we have built on top of what we have achieved now. I don't need it [a longer contract]. I don't need that security. I don't need that because I have enough confidence in myself to know that when I have a team, I will succeed. Before me, there were also good managers. But in the end, it is the quality of the players, who form a team, that can lead to success. But if the abilities are not present in the dressing room, you can't achieve anything."
Ten Hag on new coaches
"We have new coaches, which gives us, not a better dynamic, but a different dynamic, innovations, new ideas, new energy, and I think we can make progress to reach another level. If the basic qualities are not present in the dressing room, it is impossible to succeed, because no manager can make a bad footballer a good footballer."
Ten Hag on how he rates the current squad
"I think we've caught up and we're capable of competing with the best teams in England. Then you try to compete with the best teams in the world. Our challenge now is to do it more consistently. It depends a lot on the culture, the winning culture. I feel like we've built the foundations, with the new management group, with the staff and with the new players."
Ten Hag on what to expect from young members of his squad
"Patience with the youngsters? We have a very talented group of players. We are happy to have these players. They are players who have an X-factor, but they are young and there will be ups and downs and you have to be aware of that."
Ten Hag asked if Jadon Sancho “actually apologised” to him
“I think we said everything about it so we left it behind us and I think in our statement it says everything and it was clear and obvious. We left this [their disagreement] behind us and we said everything about this. We know from each other what the standards are and how we want to work, how we want to collaborate, and we need a good team. We just spoke about the standards, the levels, the abilities. When I took over you need good players to construct a good team and he's definitely a very good player.”
Comments
Post a Comment