Ten Hag: The connections will grow

In an exclusive interview with club media's Mark Sullivan at Carrington, ahead of the visit of Brentford in our final outing before the international break, the boss explained how Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford are on the way to developing a better understanding, while Mason Mount is another player getting up to speed with how to link most effectively with his new team-mates.

Ten Hag also discussed the club's Winter Coat Appeal and the Bees' start to the campaign, during his matchday interview...

“I think we have to realise in this society, not only people who live in welfare, but also people who have so less, [things] less good and are living with less good conditions. As a society, you are, in general, together, you are responsible that everyone has a good life and I think everyone who has it very good, who live with that welfare, you can miss something and share something. I think it's a great campaign and I hope we will support it and I hope all our fans will support it."

I'm sure they will. They've got great fans and it's a brilliant cause. And thank you for your donation, Erik. To the football, there are fine margins at the moment. In the last game, we played well against Galatasaray and there were some moments where we made errors. How can we turn those good performances into wins?

“You have to be right on spot on any occasion during the game and you can't lose any awareness or any sharpness, in any game. And there has to be always communication across the whole pitch. When the communication drops in levels, then you can have a problem because any one moment, opponents will take benefit from it. That was a tough lesson again, but as you say, again, there were also very good spells in the game and we scored two good goals. But then all the hard work we invested has gone, in a moment, and, in one moment, you lose focus as a team."

Rasmus scored two goals and he's getting a lot of praise. He seems to be developing very well. How much more is there to come and how happy are you with how he's developing so far?

“Of course, with his progress, we are very happy, very pleased. As you said, I think it's a big potential in him and I think he proves his potential and there will come more, given time. We need training, you need the games. We need especially also more routines in the team, and then he will take even more benefit from it. But also I think other players around him can take benefit from his actions. So he is a threat, he is scoring, but I know also other players in our team can also score.”

And Marcus crossed the brilliant ball to him for that first goal which shows how he can contribute as well. And their partnership seems to be forming now and it can only get better, I'm sure, Marcus with Rasmus…

“That has to grow and that takes time. But we know we don't have time, but I think it was a very good example. The first goal we made, where Marcus is crossing in and Rasmus is running and he's arriving there and a good finish. I think it was a great example. And when we train this more, in more games, it will grow and I'm sure it will also be going the other side and that Rasmus Hojlund linking up for Rashy and he will finish.”

Mason Mount is back in the team now getting up to full fitness. He seems to be showing us more of what he can do. What do you see him bringing to the team as the season goes on?

“Yeah. As well, he can be a big part. He can play in that game by supplying, making the connections, making the link-ups for those in the front line. He's in that midfield department. He has such abilities to give that game and to supply our front players by combinations. But also in his moments of defence transition, in defending and pressing, he can be and he is already a great player for us because he puts a lot of effort in. And also there, when we get better connections, that will grow.”

Brentford, like us, will be hungry to get that win before the international break. What do you make of their start to the season?

“Yeah, I think it's always a tough opponent and they have a very good spirit. They fight and they want to come into that fight in every game. So they are always highly motivated, the team, and already always a very good set-up. So it's going to be tough and we have to play our best and but it's about us. If we get that performance in, we get the right level, we have a very good chance to win this game.”