Ten Hag: 'Strong' United coping 'really well'

Sunday’s trip to West Ham United will be our 57th fixture in all competitions this season and, after that, the players still have four Premier League games and the Emirates FA Cup final to negotiate, plus internationals, before they can enjoy their summer break.

The Hammers have also had a busy time of it recently, with their continued participation in the Europa Conference League – they play AZ in the semi-final first leg on Thursday – meaning they have also topped 50 games in 2022/23.

As we were eliminated from the Europa League last month, our next two midweeks are free of games – amazingly, the first time this has happened since the season resumed following the World Cup.

Outside of March’s national-team break, Ten Hag’s side haven’t had more than five days’ rest between games since the end of December and the Dutchman sees the fact our season could still end with two cups and a top-four finish as testament to his players’ strength in dealing with the manic period.

“It has already had an impact on the whole season and we are doing quite well in the schedule – not quite well, but really well,” he said.

“We have a big disadvantage against others. West Ham United is a team that, I think, has a worse schedule than we [do] but we showed all season already that we can deal with that.

“We are physically and mentally very strong.”

Ten Hag has spoken at length about how ‘vital’ it is for United to secure Champions League qualification, with the Reds having our cushion to the chasing pack cut following the 1-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Reds have missed out on Europe’s elite competition several times since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, but never in consecutive seasons.

The boss wants his players to be able to test themselves against the continent’s very best, but also sees benefits from having a more regular schedule in 2023/24.

Rather than playing Thursday and Sunday for the majority of the campaign, as has been the case this term, Tuesday/Wednesday and Saturday fixtures would become the norm.

New rules introduced this season also mean teams competing in the Champions League on a Wednesday evening don't have to play in the early kick-off on Saturday.

“That’s the great advantage of playing in the Champions League: you have a better week,” Erik added.

“You need so much energy, you need a good game-plan and, every game, you have to go again,” he continued, when previewing the West Ham clash, which kicks off at 19:00 BST. “You can’t do it at 99 per cent. You have to do it at 100 per cent.

“You have to do it over the full 95 minutes and that’s why we like it.

“Top players like it, to have huge challenges, but that costs energy. That’s our job, that’s our responsibility.

“We have to take it and we lay this [defeat at Brighton] aside. On Sunday, we go again and I’m sure we will be there.”