Ten Hag: Our players will get the opportunities
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United's players will have the opportunity to contribute to his aims of success both in pre-season and when the campaign officially starts in August.
Our Tour 2023 clashes with Arsenal, Wrexham and Real Madrid have presented chances for our players to get minutes under their belts and impress the boss ahead of the new term.
And as United gear up for our final pre-season match in the United States, Monday's 02:00 BST kick-off against Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas, live on MUTV, the Dutchman was quizzed in his pre-match press conference about the team he will field against our Bundesliga opponents.
He believes that regardless of the players he picks, the Reds should 'present themselves' when given the opportunity.
As well as this, Erik discusses his philosophy, Marcus Rashford and a host of other topics ahead of the clash in Nevada. Read every word from his media briefing below...
Ten Hag's pre-Dortmund press conference Video
Ten Hag's pre-Dortmund press conference
Erik ten Hag speaks about Las Vegas, Tour 2023 and his players before our match against Borussia Dortmund...
Welcome to the US. I just wanted to ask how camp has gone so far and what you are looking for from the boys tomorrow night against Dortmund?
"So far I think we have had a good trip. You see the fans are very excited about our games. Also we get beautiful receptions everywhere and in every city we enter. New York, San Diego, Houston. So, great reception, and we are happy with it. We want to make contact with our fans in the USA and I think we succeeded in that. Tomorrow we go to Las Vegas, a big city, and also there we want to do the same. We want to show ourselves to our fans in Las Vegas and we hope for a full stadium. We have an attractive opponent, it is a good opponent so we have a good test."
With a bit more of the earlier transfers this summer and reports that you might be getting that striker you were looking for, do you feel better equipped than at the start of last summer to implement the way you want to play and is that the main focus of these pre-season games for you?
"I think the difference is, with reference to last year, now we have the foundation with this squad. Because we built the foundation last season. So the squad, the way of play, and now we have to find the right players to fit in and to raise the bar. We succeeded with Andre Onana, we succeeded with Mason Mount and now we are are looking for a striker."
"So far I think we have had a good trip. You see the fans are very excited about our games. Also we get beautiful receptions everywhere and in every city we enter. New York, San Diego, Houston. So, great reception, and we are happy with it. We want to make contact with our fans in the USA and I think we succeeded in that. Tomorrow we go to Las Vegas, a big city, and also there we want to do the same. We want to show ourselves to our fans in Las Vegas and we hope for a full stadium. We have an attractive opponent, it is a good opponent so we have a good test."
With a bit more of the earlier transfers this summer and reports that you might be getting that striker you were looking for, do you feel better equipped than at the start of last summer to implement the way you want to play and is that the main focus of these pre-season games for you?
"I think the difference is, with reference to last year, now we have the foundation with this squad. Because we built the foundation last season. So the squad, the way of play, and now we have to find the right players to fit in and to raise the bar. We succeeded with Andre Onana, we succeeded with Mason Mount and now we are are looking for a striker."
How has the atmosphere been in Las Vegas, how have the facilities been and how much are you looking forward to playing at the Allegiant Stadium?
"We are still in San Diego so we have to wait until we arrive in Las Vegas. I think it's a fantastic ambience in the stadium. The ambience will be great and we are really looking forward to the stadium, to the [fans]. We want to make the connection to the fans and bring a proper game on the pitch. Everyone is excited. We find Borussia Dortmund a very good opponent, second in Bundesliga, so we will get tested. There [I want to] have a good game and finish our tour for the season."
When you come on trips like this you as a coach want to work on the tactics and the preparations. Is it difficult to balance training and the commercial things, the meeting the fans and the other opportunities? Is it a difficult balance and have you been able to find that balance?
"It is true that it's a thin line. But [at] Manchester United football is one, two, three. We organise for the commercial, for the media, for the fans our activities. It is important as a football player, as a football manager and coaches you have to acknowledge you play football for the people. We want to win but also we want to win in a certain way. We want to have a connection with our fans. I think it is very successful what we have done so far and I also see advantages in team building because we are a very large group away. So the players socialise but also the coaches with the players, but also the staff. As Man United we go across USA, it helps, it supports that we are one club with the same mindset and same culture we want to have. I think it is really supportive, the tour, every season."
"We are still in San Diego so we have to wait until we arrive in Las Vegas. I think it's a fantastic ambience in the stadium. The ambience will be great and we are really looking forward to the stadium, to the [fans]. We want to make the connection to the fans and bring a proper game on the pitch. Everyone is excited. We find Borussia Dortmund a very good opponent, second in Bundesliga, so we will get tested. There [I want to] have a good game and finish our tour for the season."
When you come on trips like this you as a coach want to work on the tactics and the preparations. Is it difficult to balance training and the commercial things, the meeting the fans and the other opportunities? Is it a difficult balance and have you been able to find that balance?
"It is true that it's a thin line. But [at] Manchester United football is one, two, three. We organise for the commercial, for the media, for the fans our activities. It is important as a football player, as a football manager and coaches you have to acknowledge you play football for the people. We want to win but also we want to win in a certain way. We want to have a connection with our fans. I think it is very successful what we have done so far and I also see advantages in team building because we are a very large group away. So the players socialise but also the coaches with the players, but also the staff. As Man United we go across USA, it helps, it supports that we are one club with the same mindset and same culture we want to have. I think it is really supportive, the tour, every season."
After last season's very impressive campaign, I wanted to ask what are the targets going into the new season and what are the qualities of Rasmus Hojlund? What would he bring to the team?
"First of all I can't talk about a player who is under contract at another club. But first question we have to raise the bar. But to raise the bar is necessary because the competition is very strong. We have many competitors to battle for the first four positions in the Premier League so it's going to be a huge battle. It is not between two or three clubs, it is about seven, eight, nine clubs who all can finish in the end in the top four. So it is going to be a very exciting league I am sure."
Marcus Rashford recently signed a new deal. What are his talents, what does he bring to the team, and what are you expecting from him in the months of the season ahead?
"Also for Rashy we expect [him] to raise the bar. He had a good season but that doesn't give guarantees for another great season. So everything has to be right. First his basis, foundation, like lifestyle, attitude etc. To give every training his best, but also to work on his game. Work on the way of play for himself but in the team. What we are looking for goals and Rashy in this moment he proved he has a very good goalscoring record. But also for him, he wants to make the next step and score more goals than he did last season."
"First of all I can't talk about a player who is under contract at another club. But first question we have to raise the bar. But to raise the bar is necessary because the competition is very strong. We have many competitors to battle for the first four positions in the Premier League so it's going to be a huge battle. It is not between two or three clubs, it is about seven, eight, nine clubs who all can finish in the end in the top four. So it is going to be a very exciting league I am sure."
Marcus Rashford recently signed a new deal. What are his talents, what does he bring to the team, and what are you expecting from him in the months of the season ahead?
"Also for Rashy we expect [him] to raise the bar. He had a good season but that doesn't give guarantees for another great season. So everything has to be right. First his basis, foundation, like lifestyle, attitude etc. To give every training his best, but also to work on his game. Work on the way of play for himself but in the team. What we are looking for goals and Rashy in this moment he proved he has a very good goalscoring record. But also for him, he wants to make the next step and score more goals than he did last season."
How to watch and follow United v Dortmund
ArticleYour comprehensive guide to our upcoming Tour 2023 meeting with the Bundesliga giants in Las Vegas.
Can you just talk a little bit about the line-up we can expect to see against Dortmund?
"I think we will present a strong team but we have a squad. Our team is not only 11 players and everyone has to get a chance. It is an opportunity to play himself into the team and all across the season we are looking for 60 games and you can't do that with 11 players. So we need 20 outfield players, 21 outfield players. I hope that some youngsters present themselves. So with the goalkeepers you are looking at a squad of 24, 25 and this squad have to go into the competition. Every player has to contribute to that. We need to give players the opportunities to present themselves and also to get the minutes in the legs. But first of all it is always to work on the way of play."
"I think we will present a strong team but we have a squad. Our team is not only 11 players and everyone has to get a chance. It is an opportunity to play himself into the team and all across the season we are looking for 60 games and you can't do that with 11 players. So we need 20 outfield players, 21 outfield players. I hope that some youngsters present themselves. So with the goalkeepers you are looking at a squad of 24, 25 and this squad have to go into the competition. Every player has to contribute to that. We need to give players the opportunities to present themselves and also to get the minutes in the legs. But first of all it is always to work on the way of play."
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