Key quotes from Ten Hag's press conference
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has completed his first pre-season press conference ahead of the Reds' opening fixture of Tour 2024, presented by Snapdragon.
The FA Cup winners have a date with Premier League rivals Arsenal in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time (01:00 BST).
Los Angeles's SoFi Stadium is the venue and, with barely two weeks remaining until the season's first silverware opportunity – the 2024 Community Shield against Manchester City – interest in United's pre-season is steadily growing.
At the pre-match press conference, hosted at the UCLA campus where the Reds are training, the boss fielded questions on how things are progressing from a range of local and global media.
Los Angeles's SoFi Stadium is the venue and, with barely two weeks remaining until the season's first silverware opportunity – the 2024 Community Shield against Manchester City – interest in United's pre-season is steadily growing.
At the pre-match press conference, hosted at the UCLA campus where the Reds are training, the boss fielded questions on how things are progressing from a range of local and global media.
Read on for his comments on a range of topics including Marcus Rashford, new coach Andreas Georgson, and the prospect of further new signings after Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro...
Ten Hag's pre-Arsenal press conference Video
Ten Hag's pre-Arsenal press conference
PRESS CONFERENCE | Watch Erik answer questions on Mount, Rashford, signings and more in Los Angeles...
VISION, STRATEGY AND WORK
“That’s what I did all my career. I believe in myself. And it's always coming from good vision, good strategy and hard work. And then finally you get your reward. We had to wait very long last season, but by the end we got a reward. We are now in a new season and we left everything behind and we're looking forward. It's a great project. And also the process is nice and we'll go with ups and downs. Now we are very energised. We have a good dynamic, good spirit. We’re looking forward, we want to work and we want to win.”
YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOURSELF
“I never think if I'm in a strong position or in a weak position. But when you take over a dressing room that didn't win in six years one trophy, you have to prove yourself. That's clear. But I don't think ‘I'm strong’ or ‘I'm weak’. No, I want to collaborate. I want to work together [with others]. I can't do this alone. And we have to collaborate very good with the players, but also with the staff, with the leadership. So with everyone. And then I'm sure, when we have the right vision, we will have even more success.”
“That’s what I did all my career. I believe in myself. And it's always coming from good vision, good strategy and hard work. And then finally you get your reward. We had to wait very long last season, but by the end we got a reward. We are now in a new season and we left everything behind and we're looking forward. It's a great project. And also the process is nice and we'll go with ups and downs. Now we are very energised. We have a good dynamic, good spirit. We’re looking forward, we want to work and we want to win.”
YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOURSELF
“I never think if I'm in a strong position or in a weak position. But when you take over a dressing room that didn't win in six years one trophy, you have to prove yourself. That's clear. But I don't think ‘I'm strong’ or ‘I'm weak’. No, I want to collaborate. I want to work together [with others]. I can't do this alone. And we have to collaborate very good with the players, but also with the staff, with the leadership. So with everyone. And then I'm sure, when we have the right vision, we will have even more success.”
STRIVING FOR CONSISTENCY
“We proved how we can beat the best team and not only one time, we did it twice. But also the other games against them [Manchester City] were very close. It was a deserved win in the final, but also the other games we could have won. So we are capable of it, but our challenge is to do it consistently and that is what we have to work for.”
SIGNINGS - NO SPECIFIC NUMBER NEEDED
“I just want a squad that is strong as possible. We have already had two very good buys, so when everyone is fit, we have a team who can beat everyone, but also in the squad depth, we have to catch up. We know that because we had injuries and we are vulnerable and we have to avoid this by firstly getting less injuries, picking up less injuries. And secondly, our squad has to be good in its depth. Of course, we have the quality, but in the depth, now we have to catch up and and even more because this season will be the survival of the fittest.”
RUUD CAN HELP RASHFORD – AND OTHERS
“That is a reason why he [Van Nistelrooy] is here, but not only for the strikers. He is much more than this. But Rashford can only prove himself and he is capable of it. He has scored so many goals already at a relatively young age. So, he's capable of it. So I'm confident and 100% believe he can do the same as two years ago.”
“We proved how we can beat the best team and not only one time, we did it twice. But also the other games against them [Manchester City] were very close. It was a deserved win in the final, but also the other games we could have won. So we are capable of it, but our challenge is to do it consistently and that is what we have to work for.”
SIGNINGS - NO SPECIFIC NUMBER NEEDED
“I just want a squad that is strong as possible. We have already had two very good buys, so when everyone is fit, we have a team who can beat everyone, but also in the squad depth, we have to catch up. We know that because we had injuries and we are vulnerable and we have to avoid this by firstly getting less injuries, picking up less injuries. And secondly, our squad has to be good in its depth. Of course, we have the quality, but in the depth, now we have to catch up and and even more because this season will be the survival of the fittest.”
RUUD CAN HELP RASHFORD – AND OTHERS
“That is a reason why he [Van Nistelrooy] is here, but not only for the strikers. He is much more than this. But Rashford can only prove himself and he is capable of it. He has scored so many goals already at a relatively young age. So, he's capable of it. So I'm confident and 100% believe he can do the same as two years ago.”
Smiles in the sun
GalleryThe temperature – and vibes – were high at UCLA, the day before United's Tour 2024 opener against Arsenal.
MOUNT’S SECOND SEASON
“You can't judge [his first] season because he was injured. But when he is fit, he will be a very good player for us and we can use him. He’s versatile and you need that in a squad. You need certain types in the squad, like you need the leaders, you need the team players. You need individuals, multi-functional players. And yeah, definitely he is one of those players. He can play in several positions and I'm sure he will help the team.”
PLAYING ARSENAL IN LOS ANGELES
“We are very pleased to be here and to bring, I think, top Premier League football to LA. And I think for all the fans it's a great opportunity as we are not often so close because the season doesn't allow us to come over more often. But I think this is a great opportunity to to watch two of the best teams in the world. We want to win every game. And Arsenal will have the same approach against us. It’s a good test for both clubs, I'm sure both are very eager to win.”
ANDREAS GEORGSON'S APPOINTMENT
“When we assessed and did the review of the staff, we did some profiling of what we wanted to fill in. He will be working in areas such as individual development, winning culture and set plays. So that is his job and I think we are very pleased with him in our team. We’re looking forward to having him here.”
“You can't judge [his first] season because he was injured. But when he is fit, he will be a very good player for us and we can use him. He’s versatile and you need that in a squad. You need certain types in the squad, like you need the leaders, you need the team players. You need individuals, multi-functional players. And yeah, definitely he is one of those players. He can play in several positions and I'm sure he will help the team.”
PLAYING ARSENAL IN LOS ANGELES
“We are very pleased to be here and to bring, I think, top Premier League football to LA. And I think for all the fans it's a great opportunity as we are not often so close because the season doesn't allow us to come over more often. But I think this is a great opportunity to to watch two of the best teams in the world. We want to win every game. And Arsenal will have the same approach against us. It’s a good test for both clubs, I'm sure both are very eager to win.”
ANDREAS GEORGSON'S APPOINTMENT
“When we assessed and did the review of the staff, we did some profiling of what we wanted to fill in. He will be working in areas such as individual development, winning culture and set plays. So that is his job and I think we are very pleased with him in our team. We’re looking forward to having him here.”
NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM
“It’s a new dynamic. You see a lot of energy in the team. And after a season ending on a high, that's again very good to see. And we want to gather more trophies. That is what we are aiming for this season.”
LOOKING FOR LEFT-BACKS?
“We’re looking in all the positions to reinforce. But yeah, we need a plan in our squad to assure ourselves that we are always occupied in that position. That's clear.”
REASONS FOR INJURIES
“The amount of games the fixture list had, the load on the players, the pressure on the players is so high. And we are not the only team with so many injuries. And there were across the Premier League, there were many teams with a lot of injuries. We were not even the worst. What we had there was our bad luck. We had them all in the end of the season in the back four. And of course that cost us a lot of points, but the load on and the pressure on players is so immense. And this season it's getting even worse because of the new model, the new format in Europe.
"It will happen again. I just mentioned it is the survival of the fittest. So one of the things so important in your structures is that you cover that, that fitness part with the medical staff, with performance and that you have to things right. But also the players, they have to work in the right way because when the standards are so high, then you have to fulfil them. It's only possible when you fulfill the highest standards. It’s not only on game day. On every day.”
“It’s a new dynamic. You see a lot of energy in the team. And after a season ending on a high, that's again very good to see. And we want to gather more trophies. That is what we are aiming for this season.”
LOOKING FOR LEFT-BACKS?
“We’re looking in all the positions to reinforce. But yeah, we need a plan in our squad to assure ourselves that we are always occupied in that position. That's clear.”
REASONS FOR INJURIES
“The amount of games the fixture list had, the load on the players, the pressure on the players is so high. And we are not the only team with so many injuries. And there were across the Premier League, there were many teams with a lot of injuries. We were not even the worst. What we had there was our bad luck. We had them all in the end of the season in the back four. And of course that cost us a lot of points, but the load on and the pressure on players is so immense. And this season it's getting even worse because of the new model, the new format in Europe.
"It will happen again. I just mentioned it is the survival of the fittest. So one of the things so important in your structures is that you cover that, that fitness part with the medical staff, with performance and that you have to things right. But also the players, they have to work in the right way because when the standards are so high, then you have to fulfil them. It's only possible when you fulfill the highest standards. It’s not only on game day. On every day.”
Training Highlights: Turning up the heat Video
Training Highlights: Turning up the heat
SPORTING HERITAGE | Our training show begins in UCLA’s world-renowned museum before moving to the pitches…
MEDICAL REVIEW
“We already made our decisions and we appointed a new club doctor last season. And actually he started late in the season but now he can start this one in the lead. And we appointed a new head physio. So we have made changes there. We also changed strategies in medical and performance to improve, but I think that is normal in nowadays football. The developments are so fast and every time you have to innovate and if you want to be the best, you also need the best in those departments.”
ANTONY AND RASHFORD
“I think for every individual it is different and no one is the same. No one has the same background. But it's clear we want to win and we need good players. And both of them are very good players.”
CENTRE-BACKS AFTER SIGNING YORO
“I think we are occupied [in that position] but we work continually. I think the good thing is we already signed two players but I think it belongs to a club as Manchester United that you are always looking if the opportunity is there for better. And we still have time until 31 August.”
“We already made our decisions and we appointed a new club doctor last season. And actually he started late in the season but now he can start this one in the lead. And we appointed a new head physio. So we have made changes there. We also changed strategies in medical and performance to improve, but I think that is normal in nowadays football. The developments are so fast and every time you have to innovate and if you want to be the best, you also need the best in those departments.”
ANTONY AND RASHFORD
“I think for every individual it is different and no one is the same. No one has the same background. But it's clear we want to win and we need good players. And both of them are very good players.”
CENTRE-BACKS AFTER SIGNING YORO
“I think we are occupied [in that position] but we work continually. I think the good thing is we already signed two players but I think it belongs to a club as Manchester United that you are always looking if the opportunity is there for better. And we still have time until 31 August.”
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