Ten Hag explains United line-up at Southampton
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has named an unchanged side for the trip to Southampton, with new signing Casemiro starting on the bench.
Ten Hag’s Reds dominated Liverpool in a brilliant 2-1 win on Monday and are at St. Mary’s looking for a first away win of the Premier League season.
The boss may have been tempted to start his impressive new midfield signing, but decided to give the Brazilian more time to settle before unleashing him on the division.
"I think we have a squad that is quite competitive, so it’s always a difficult decision," Ten Hag told BT Sport.
"We had a really good performance on Monday and then you stick to it. But it also gives Casemiro the time. He has not played one game of 90 minutes. He has to adapt to England, he has to adapt to Manchester United and [we need] to give him the time to integrate into the team."
Ten Hag also explained the decision to keep Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw on the bench for a second successive game.
"As a person it is always a consideration, but as a manager you have to take the clear decisions," he told BT Sport. "The team is always most important. You make the decision that is in advantage for the team, no matter who it is. In your communication you have to be clear and be honest."
The boss noted he is looking to utilise pace up front and combativeness in midfield, building on the Liverpool win with the hard work he is trying to instill into the squad.
"We have to use our talents. We have speed up front and we have to use it," said Ten Hag.
"We have the midfield to win the second ball. With Bruno and Scott, we can win second balls. With Elanga, Rashford and Sancho we have a lot of speed up front.”
Ten Hag: It's about attitude
Erik ten Hag wants his side to build on Monday's win by deploying the same mentality today at Southampton...
United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; McTominay, Eriksen; Sancho, Fernandes (c), Elanga; Rashford.
Substitutes: Heaton, Maguire, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Fred, Van de Beek, Garnacho, Ronaldo.
Southampton: Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap, Salisu, Djenepo; Aribo, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi, Lavia, Armstrong; Adams.
Substitutes: McCarthy, Lyanco, Bednarek, Valery, Perraud, Romeu, Armstrong, Mara, Diallo.