August 15th 2024.
The new season is just around the corner and Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag, has held his first pre-match press conference. He expressed his concerns about the team's readiness for the resumption of the Premier League, citing the hectic summer that many of the players have had. With most of the squad participating in either Euro 2024 or Copa America, they were unable to enjoy a significant break after a grueling Premier League campaign.
Ten Hag, who is speaking at his first pre-match press conference of the season, acknowledged that his team is not fully prepared for the upcoming season. However, he also pointed out that this is a common issue faced by many other managers in the early part of the season. Manchester United will kick-start their 2024-25 Premier League campaign on Friday night at Old Trafford, as they face Fulham.
When asked about whether his players need more time, Ten Hag replied, "It's true, it's not like pre-season where we have five to six weeks to work on the team. It's a very complicated situation." He also mentioned the challenges of integrating new players into the team, especially with the addition of the players from the USA tour, Euro 2024, Copa America, and the recent signings. It's a daunting task to create a cohesive team in such a short time, but it's a challenge that they must face.
Speaking about the new signings, Ten Hag confirmed that both Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, who joined from Bayern Munich earlier this week, will be available for Friday's match against Fulham. He also mentioned that Harry Maguire will also be in the squad for the game. Despite having some injury concerns, Ten Hag remains optimistic and said, "We can't hide, we have to deal with it."
Last season, there were rumors about Ten Hag losing his job after Manchester United's disappointing eighth-place finish. However, the club's hierarchy decided to stick with him after a surprise FA Cup final win over Manchester City. Ten Hag is aware of the expectations and targets for the team this season, saying, "We know our targets, we know our direction."
He also added, "Our expectations are always high, and we want to compete for trophies." When asked about how long it will take for the team to reach full strength, Ten Hag replied, "We are complete, and we have been working together for 10 days now. But it always takes time to gel as a team." He also mentioned that this is a common issue faced by many teams at the start of the season and emphasized the importance of not dropping points and working hard to improve.
In conclusion, Ten Hag is fully focused on the upcoming season and is determined to lead Manchester United to success. He acknowledged that there will be challenges, but he is confident in the team's abilities and is looking forward to seeing how they progress throughout the season. As always, the expectations for Manchester United are high, and the team is determined to compete for trophies.
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