Ten Hag's update on transfer deadline day
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was asked to provide an update on potential transfer deadline day activity during his latest press conference at Carrington.
Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui all joined the Reds earlier this summer, and further incomings have been speculated about in the press, as well as potential outgoings.
While the manager is always reluctant to comment on transfer activity until it is confirmed, he did provide a short update when asked by journalists at the training ground today.
You can read what Erik had to say in this full transcript of the press conference…
While the manager is always reluctant to comment on transfer activity until it is confirmed, he did provide a short update when asked by journalists at the training ground today.
You can read what Erik had to say in this full transcript of the press conference…
Part one: Press conference v Liverpool Video
Part one: Press conference v Liverpool
Press conference | Get the latest news and views from Erik before Sunday's huge game against Liverpool...
Erik, we've been waiting for news on Scott McTominay and Manuel Ugarte for a couple of days now. I know there's not been any official announcement, but can you update anything yet?
"It looks like you know everything! So I can't tell you more than you already know. So it's not completed yet."
But the deadline closes at 11 o'clock, so presumably you expect it to be completed?
"Yes, we expect it, but I can't confirm it by now."
Can you also update what the situation is with Jadon Sancho please?
"He is a player in our squad and we are happy with him. We need a good squad, we need depth in the squad. We have to play many games until January, [with] the new format of Europe. After the break, we will play every third day, so we need, absolutely, options."
So you expect him still to be here after this evening?
"As I know, yeah."
Erik, what's the latest with Rasmus Hojlund, and when can we expect him back in first-team training?
"After the break, but when after the break? We have to see how he develops, how he can progress, during the break to get match-fit. He returned on the pitch, but it will take a while before he's up [to speed] because everyone has seen, it happens in the first game [of his pre-season]. So he needs to go up and to build some fitness.
I know you can't confirm anything, but you would have seen yesterday the footage of Scott McTominay at Naples airport, getting a very warm welcome by the fans. Was that a nice thing for you to see? A massive smile on his face, him being so welcomed so quickly...
"It's a little bit mixed. I'm very happy for him and it's also for us, but it's mixed, because I wouldn't prefer to lose him, because he is Man United in every vein. He was so important for our team, for Manchester United. He was here for over 22 years. Unfortunately, it's the rules. We have to discuss the rules when you have to do sells and then, obviously, homegrown players, Academy players, they bring more value. That's not the right thing to do, but yeah, I think for everyone, for all parts, it's a good deal. For Scott, he's happy with it. Of course, for Napoli, a very good player. But also for us."
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Erik, looking ahead to this weekend then, what is the team news heading into Liverpool?
"What do you mean, the team news? You want to have the line-up?!"
In an ideal world, yes, but I don't think you're going to give us that! Are we looking at the same again, or do you have more options this weekend?
"No. We have Mason Mount... you have all seen he is not available for the weekend. Then I think that's it. For the rest it's the same squad as last weekend."
With Liverpool in mind, you had two good games against them at Old Trafford in the league and cup last year, is it a tie that excites you coming to early in the season? And what differences have you already seen in the way Arne Slot lines up his team?
"It's always, when Liverpool comes, very exciting. We are really looking forward to competing with them. So we have a good squad; we can bring a good team out. Of course it's early in the season. We have to progress, we have to improve, also because we have to integrate some new players in. But yeah, we are really looking forward to this game."
What are you getting with the new player that you maybe didn't have with Scott? Why have you made the change?
"With the new player? To make a change? I think you can't [compare]. It's not a comparison. You can't compare those two players because they are different players. We had three no.10s and we didn't have any more holding midfielders apart from one. So that is the idea behind it."
Erik, Dan Ashworth said at the UEFA draw, regarding the transfer window, "Let's see what happens – the window's still open. We have some conversations going on." Do you think there'll be any more incomings, or do you think the next player will be the final player to come in?
"Dan has said everything, so I don't have to go into this, because it's already said. So I think we always look for opportunities to bring out the best squad we can have."
Marcus Rashford has got a very good record against Liverpool, but he had some criticism from Alan Shearer. You took him off just after Amad scored. Is he lacking confidence? I know you said a couple of weeks ago that he wasn't, but he's had some good chances this season and not taken them...
"Everyone gets criticism from you guys. It doesn't matter what we are doing: if we are winning, if we are losing. If I take a player off then it's a conclusion that I'm not happy with him. I'm very happy with Rashy. In pre-season, against Fulham, also against Brighton. It was not why I took him off, because his performances or his level was not right. No, we have to rotate. We have good players on the bench as well. You bring new energy to win the game. And there will be rotation. If then there's the conclusion that a player is not performing... it can be sometimes, but definitely it wasn't in this case. So a stupid analysis in this case from a pundit."
Team news for United v Liverpool
ArticleErik comments on the injury situations of two Reds ahead of Sunday's big Premier League game.
Hi Erik. You talked about the no-good culture you encountered when you first came here, and all the work you've had to do behind the scenes, and all the work that continues to go on with the structure and everything. With regards Liverpool, do you think, in a way, Arne Slot has had it easier than you, coming to a club that finished third, the structure was already in place, with the players that were there... has he had it easier than you, to sort of slot in, whereas you've had to do so much more work behind the scenes to get this club and this squad back to where you want it to be?
"That was one of the reasons that I wanted to come here: to have this challenge. I knew beforehand that this is the most difficult [job] that I could ever do in life, to come into a club where there are a lot of problems which we had to sort. I inherited, in the history from six years, no trophies. That meant that the dressing room, the qualities, were not right. So we had to build, we had to construct, we had to perform and to bring up a higher level. We did this, with transfers, but also by bringing Academy players into the team. What you see now [is that] we brought new players in, but many young players, and we are in a life cycle, we are at the start. We are still in the transition stage. We have young players. Now we have to make a team from it. But we have young players - some we brought them, some Academy players - and now we have to construct a team for the future."
Arne Slot hasn't had that challenge has he? He's inherited a great team...
"Yeah, but I am not here to talk for him. Liverpool, yeah, it's clear they are in a different phase of the life cycle. They have a team what's mature, they have players already who are long together, playing long together, and who are very experienced. We have much more [of a] mix. We have to build a new team."
Do you think because of the job he is taking on, do you think it suits you to catch him early in the season, to try and get him early in that cycle? That gives you more of a chance to win this game?
"We can always win. Also last year, we won in the second part of the season."
But you're playing against somebody, you know full well how difficult it is coming into this country... is it better to face him early rather than in six months' time?
"I'm not sure, because there is a team and the structures are really clear. I think the players, the partnerships, the relationships in that team, are very clear. That is what he inherited, and that is built over the past year. Still things are the same but, also, I have seen some things already that he brought in."
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