Key quotes from Erik’s press conference: Part one
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has met with the media this Thursday afternoon to preview our final game of the Premier League season, away to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Less than 24 hours on from Wednesday’s entertaining 3-2 victory over Newcastle United at Old Trafford, in our penultimate game of the top-flight campaign, the boss sat down with journalists at our Carrington training ground to switch the focus to Sunday’s league finale on the road.
The meeting with Roberto Di Zerbi’s side at the Amex Stadium comes just under a week before the following Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup final against Manchester City – two matches that Ten Hag was keen not to let the conversation get too far away from, in the first part of his latest press conference.
You can read the key quotes from the opening half of that media briefing below, which include insight from today’s training, the latest on Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw’s injuries, plus his thoughts on the recent form of Amad and Sofyan Amrabat.
The meeting with Roberto Di Zerbi’s side at the Amex Stadium comes just under a week before the following Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup final against Manchester City – two matches that Ten Hag was keen not to let the conversation get too far away from, in the first part of his latest press conference.
You can read the key quotes from the opening half of that media briefing below, which include insight from today’s training, the latest on Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw’s injuries, plus his thoughts on the recent form of Amad and Sofyan Amrabat.
Part one: Press conference v Brighton Video
Part one: Press conference v Brighton
Press conference part one | Ten Hag on selection problems, the VAR vote, learning curves and more…
HOW THE SQUAD ARE RECOVERING
“I can't say in this moment, but we are working to bring players back. We have seen yesterday, Licha Martinez, he had a good session now as well. There were also others on the pitch like Rapha Varane and Victor Lindelof, they returned on the pitch. We have to see how far [off a return] they are on Sunday. Tomorrow, we have off, Saturday we have a training, and then we will see what we have.”
MAGUIRE AND SHAW AVAILABILITY
“For England, I can't say, it's not up to me. But for the cup final, we're working on [it]. I think Harry Maguire, I think it's a fair chance that he will be available. We plan [for] him. Luke is more complicated, in this moment, let's say it's a less chance that he will make it. But there is still a very small, reduced chance.”
“I can't say in this moment, but we are working to bring players back. We have seen yesterday, Licha Martinez, he had a good session now as well. There were also others on the pitch like Rapha Varane and Victor Lindelof, they returned on the pitch. We have to see how far [off a return] they are on Sunday. Tomorrow, we have off, Saturday we have a training, and then we will see what we have.”
MAGUIRE AND SHAW AVAILABILITY
“For England, I can't say, it's not up to me. But for the cup final, we're working on [it]. I think Harry Maguire, I think it's a fair chance that he will be available. We plan [for] him. Luke is more complicated, in this moment, let's say it's a less chance that he will make it. But there is still a very small, reduced chance.”
AMAD AND AMRABAT ARE IMPRESSING
“It's internal competition. I think they perform well, first. Their progression across the season is very good from both and now they deserved their chance, they took their chance and that's a luxury [selection] problem, which is good. That is what I need, what I was waiting for, for so long. Actually, what I was waiting for the whole season, such a luxury problem. We need a squad to win both [the Brighton and Manchester City] games.”
YOUNG SCORERS AGAINST NEWCASTLE
“A game like yesterday, of course, this will help. And especially [for] young players. There were three very young players on the scoring list, it will give them a lot of confidence and belief going into the next game and games.”
PREMIER LEAGUE VOTE ON SCRAPPING VAR
“I don't think there is a way back [without VAR in football]. In principle, it makes the football more fair, but there are some problems. I think we have to find solutions for those problems, so we have to make improvements.”
“It's internal competition. I think they perform well, first. Their progression across the season is very good from both and now they deserved their chance, they took their chance and that's a luxury [selection] problem, which is good. That is what I need, what I was waiting for, for so long. Actually, what I was waiting for the whole season, such a luxury problem. We need a squad to win both [the Brighton and Manchester City] games.”
YOUNG SCORERS AGAINST NEWCASTLE
“A game like yesterday, of course, this will help. And especially [for] young players. There were three very young players on the scoring list, it will give them a lot of confidence and belief going into the next game and games.”
PREMIER LEAGUE VOTE ON SCRAPPING VAR
“I don't think there is a way back [without VAR in football]. In principle, it makes the football more fair, but there are some problems. I think we have to find solutions for those problems, so we have to make improvements.”
Amad: This is the mentality we need Video
Amad: This is the mentality we need
Amad is pleased with how United fought, as he reflects on his first Premier League goal…
FOCUS ON OUR REMAINING GAMES
“As I say, I look at the two games. That's important. And other issues will only distract us. We know what we are building on, and we have to keep this process going. At the same time, we have to win games and [we have] two very important games, so all the focus from me, from the team has to be on those two games.”
BRIGHTON AS AN OPPONENT
“Of course, it's a typical style of play, Brighton, I admire it. The way they approach the game, it's a real challenge. We're really looking forward [to it]. But it's up to us to get the right plan, to get the right execution, to prepare the team in the best way we can, and then it's about the players, to get the win.”
“As I say, I look at the two games. That's important. And other issues will only distract us. We know what we are building on, and we have to keep this process going. At the same time, we have to win games and [we have] two very important games, so all the focus from me, from the team has to be on those two games.”
BRIGHTON AS AN OPPONENT
“Of course, it's a typical style of play, Brighton, I admire it. The way they approach the game, it's a real challenge. We're really looking forward [to it]. But it's up to us to get the right plan, to get the right execution, to prepare the team in the best way we can, and then it's about the players, to get the win.”
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