Erik: How we'll cope with Rasmus absence
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United have other frontlines that are capable of scoring goals and winning games in the absence of Rasmus Hojlund.
The Dane, who has netted in each of his last six Premier League appearances, has been sidelined for two to three weeks with a muscle injury.
While Ten Hag conceded it is a blow to lose his in-form striker, he believes confidence is flowing throughout the side and that the rest of his squad can step up.
The boss also commented on the top-four race, saying he'd rather be 'the hunted' than 'the hunter' as we aim to draw level with Tottenham Hotspur in fifth...
Erik, you go into the weekend's game unbeaten in 2024. How much confidence is it giving you and the group right now?
“It gives a good mood and it gives a good spirit. But every game starts on zero and we have to understand that's very important for tomorrow's game and to go in with that spirit, how we have to start new and bring the right performance and play [to] the right levels. Co-operate and get the crowd behind you. Then I think we are and we can be confident, and because we know we are getting structures in our way of play. And then from there on, from that point, we have to score and win the game.”
Matchday Q&A: Ten Hag on Fulham (H)
‘I’d prefer to be hunted than the hunters’: Erik ten Hag on the importance of three points in the top-four race…
We're in good form, but you've said a few times in this run that we need to be more clinical in front of goal. So how have you been working to improve that?
“Oh, first of all, it's good to see we're creating chances and it's also good to see that it's not only one person who scores the goals. So across the team, across the frontline, we’re scoring goals and I think we have to keep that process going. But, of course, we have to also give each other the balls in the right moments, to make the right decisions and then be clinical, because all the players there in the frontline, they are capable of scoring goals.”
Unfortunately, you'll have to find goals without Rasmus for the next couple of weeks. So how will you be looking at solutions to solve this little problem?
“We have our options in our squad. Of course, it's a setback for Rasmus. It's a setback for us that we can't keep this process going from the three in the frontline. They were really complementary to each other lately, but I think also we can put out other frontlines who can become complementary and co-operate well together and create chances. As I said, they are all capable of scoring goals.”
Any other team news? How's the squad looking for the game?
“Yeah. Luke Shaw so also he's out, but still, we have a strong side. We can put out a strong team, and it's now up to the team to deal with it. There are also other teams in this league who have had to deal with injuries, with setbacks. And yeah, that is the position we are in. Tomorrow, again, is a final. We have to be ready for that.”
You've had another full week to prepare. How much are you enjoying having more time on the training ground with your players?
“It helps, and as a trainer it's enjoyable. You can work on the team in those days, but I prefer to play every third day.”
What do you expect from Fulham, who'll be without arguably their most influential player, Joao Palhinha?
“They have to live with that and in is coming another player, but it's a strong side. And what you know from Fulham, they always want to play football and I think it's a very well-structured team. We have to play our best and only when we achieve our highest levels, then we will beat them. We have to be competitive for that. We have to be ready for that. We have to get in that fighting spirit and play good football against them.”
Finally, a win would move us level on points with Spurs in the race for getting into the Champions League. Is that something you look at, or is that just us fans and the media who look at things like that?
“At this moment, I don't look at final positions, but what I said many times now, lately every game is a final and we have to catch up. In this moment, we are the hunters and I'd prefer to be hunted.”