Every word from Erik's pre-Arsenal press conference

United will take on the Gunners at the MetLife Stadium on Saturday (22:00 BST) and before that match Ten Hag commenced a media briefing.

On the agenda were questions about United's new club captain, Bruno Fernandes, the Reds' striker search and the impact new signings Mason Mount and Andre Onana will have at the club.

You can read every single word from Erik's press conference below...

You have made very good signings in Mason Mount and Andre Onana. How important is it to get a striker in?
"We do, across Manchester United, with a lot of people, we do everything that's in our power to get the right man in."

It's in your power to get the right man in?
"Transfer market, you never know, but we have targets and we do everything we can, I said. Every effort we put in to get this done because it is an area we need improvement."

With the captaincy, when did you decide that Bruno would become the official captain of the club?
"In the summer."

When you told Harry [Maguire], were you aware that Harry was going to put that statement out and how did he take the news that you were not making him captain anymore?
"I think everyone can understand that it is, for a player, a disappointment but it can also work out very good for the team and for Harry. Harry is an important player, he is an important player. We have four centre-backs, we need four centre-backs minimum, maybe one extra. We saw last season we play so many games so we are really pleased to have Harry in our squad."

If you don't get players out it's going to be hard to get that striker you need isn't it? That must be key to us and the clock is ticking down...
"You have to talk. You make the question to the wrong person. I am aware of finance, and of FFP rules etc. Like I said, across United we do everything to get the target in."

Just on Bruno becoming manager -
"- I've been replaced!"

On Bruno becoming captain, what was your thought process? Was anyone else under consideration?
"I think across our squad we have more leaders. For me it's always you the team, the squad, you leaders, you need players. You need specialists. You need motivational players, you need individualists. All those areas you have to cover in your squad and I am happy we have more than one leader. Bruno will wear the armband but he will get support from others."

When we first spoke to you last year you were careful to say top four was the target for you. Is top four still the target now, or can you aim higher?
"We have to raise the bar but you can first, by raising the bar, you cannot always express that in the clinical results. Of course, we want to win every game. That stays. We showed last season that we can beat all the teams in the world but now we have to do it more consistently. That is absolutely one of our objectives. We have to be consistent."

Given what you have and have built and the players you have signed, do you think Manchester United can challenge for the title?
"I already gave you an answer to this question. I said we want to be more consistent. We want to play at a higher level. We want to raise the bar and play at a higher level and then we will see where we end. The competition is very strong but we can beat any club in the world, we have shown."

Was there a point which you looked at the goalkeeper situation last season and thought you couldn't continue with David [De Gea] and you need to change goalkeeper in the summer?
"I think David had a huge contribution on our level of performance last year and our result. I want to mention all the clean sheets he made but it was also always a team performance because we defend with 11. Not only with the goalkeeper but it was absolutely obvious that David played a huge role and a huge contribution in that. But there is coming a time for every player, that a club is going to make changes. It was the right moment in our perspective."

Were there any regrets that after 12 years David didn't get his big farewell?
"Yeah but he will get that. Big contribution, he deserves it, if it is up to me. David after 545 games, all his contribution, after all his performance over this period. It is massive what he did. For the rest of his life he is a Manchester United [legend]. We have to say farewell in front of all of our fans at Old Trafford, absolutely."

You've spoken before of Manchester United having to be more aggressive in their play and having greater protection. How does signing Mason Mount and Andre Onana help you achieve that?
"I think first they are great football players, of course, that is key. But also they are great personalities. They exactly what they want. They have both a winning attitude and they can't lose so they will give 100 per cent effort to get that done. Both are really in the team."

Are there any deputies to Bruno?
"We will see and I have already expressed there are more leaders in the squad. We will go in a natural way and decide but as I said, Bruno will not do it on his own. We have strong characters in our team with strong opinions but also we will see who will take that role."

Last season you mentioned an era coming to an end, talking about City and other clubs. Do you still see that?
"I didn't say particularly City. I said it was Liverpool or City and we have seen what can happen last season. One side was top, another was less. I have spoken over a certain period of years and eras will always come to an end."

Andre Onana, what quality does he bring to your team?
"Great personality. First of all, he is a good goalkeeper. He has to make sure he keeps his goal clean in togetherness with the whole team, because a big part of a goalkeeper is organising."

How will you measure this successive string of matches and are you treating them as big matches?
"We don't play friendly games. So very serious. This is the only period in the year we can train. We have to take this opportunity. On purpose we choose good opponents. We already have two. Leeds is a rival, Lyon is a very strong team in French football. And now we play here really strong teams in Arsenal, Real Madrid and Dortmund. Also teams across Europe and a Premier League team so it's really good to compete with them because then we can test ourselves and know after such games where we are. We also because you get tested you can work very good on your way of play. That is the reason for pre-season. To get your play right because you want to raise the bar."

You said that when you spoke to Maguire it could work out better for him. In what way could it work out better for him?
"Because not any more more captaincy, so less responsibility in that perspective but we need more than 11 players, we need that competition. He can fight himself in the team, he has the potential, I have said it often. So it is up to him to get this position and now he can focus more on his role but as a centre-back, you have to communicate, you have to organise because that is one of the areas you have to perform as a centre-back. The same as a keeper it is about prevention. You have to be called into action."

What was the conversation with him? Was it if you want to stay you can but I understand you may want to go somewhere else, or did you say I want you to stay and you can have a big role for us?
"It is about captaincy and of course I said to him you are one of four and fight for yourself in the team."

Just on the striker front. Wout Weghorst has gone back to Burnley and there are still injury concerns with Anthony Martial. If we did get another forward in, are you still concerned you are short going into the season?
"Yeah but we proved also last season we can be very successful. We didn't have too many strikers. We still proved we were successful. I expect from our front players more. On a higher level. I said we have to raise the bar. I expect from all the players more. So from the front players but also across the whole team, we expect more goals."

Onana was sent home from the World Cup and when you were his coach at Ajax, his time there ended sourly. The way he plays is brave, but does he represent a gamble as a signing due to his personality?
"He is a personality yes, but he is an absolute winner. I have always worked very good with him. We achieved so many trophies and played great football. It is a challenge for him because this is a better club, better competition. The demands are higher, the expectations are higher. Much more fans, fanbase all across the world, so that is a challenge and therefore I wanted him because his character, he wants to have a challenge and then he is on his best."

Manchester United can be a little bit of a graveyard for goalkeepers. There have been goalkeepers who have come here and been unable to deal with what you have mentioned. But you feel he will add something to your team?
"He likes a challenge. He will raise to the occasion."

We hear regularly that United will always be in for the best players and you have said you need a top striker. Why are the club not trying everything possible to to get Harry Kane in?
"I don't come in to talk about specifics over players who are under contract at another club."

You have brought in Mason Mount. How does he compliment other midfielders like Bruno and Casemiro?
"He is very dynamic and [has] a lot of game understanding. So in and out of possession I am convinced he will really add quality to our midfield department and give us more chance to win games, to win trophies because he knows how to win trophies and he will bring that to our squad."

On Kobbie Mainoo, What are you plans for him? What is he like in the first team and in training?
"We have to see in pre-season. He gets his chance because he deserves it. Because he showed it in the Under-21s and in our training. He showed a high level and now he has to show it in games. So pre-season is perfect to test him. He is an option to get into the game squad and to get playtime. We will see but I am confident he can do it and we have to wait we have test if it is going to happen."

Andre Onana's playing style is a big contrast to how David plays. How long will it take for players to adapt to him and vice versa? And are you expecting him to adapt his game or to play exactly as he does?
"I expect him to do exactly that. I think Andre is a goalkeeper who can play behind a high block but also a very low block. Therefore it is so good he is now in. But the co-operation is so essential so we need players in pre-season then we can work on that. But I am convinced he will adapt and the players will also be aware and take advantage of his qualities. You have already seen with different players like Matej [Kovar] he did very a well. Our players will very quickly adapt to that and take benefit from it."

Rashford, we saw him play centrally and on the left-hand side. Do you have a plan for him next season through the middle, with Garnacho on the left?
"In both positions, and it depends on so many circumstance where we will play him. But he can play both positions very good and in both positions he can be really efficient."

Have you been involved in discussions about Mason Greenwood's future? How do you see it panning out and have you been keeping in touch with him?
"It is a club decision and of course I have shared my ideas and opinions but it is a club decision, we have to accept that."

Would you like to keep him?
"I can't say so much about it. But I shared my opinion about it. So let's see what the decision will be."

Do you plan on trying to see the Glazer family while you are over here and get an update on what's going on?
"That is also a club decision and I am more often in contact with them. This is a good opportunity to share our ideas. We can talk informally. But it is also, I can advise recommendations but the decision is on the club."