Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag spoke to media ahead of hosting Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Wednesday in the Premier League.
After losing out on two points against Eddie Howe's Newcastle on the weekend, Ten Hag's men have two difficult games in a row against Spurs and Chelsea.
With Antonio Conte's men coming up first, the United manager was asked questions by journalists ahead of the league encounter, you can read the full transcript below.
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Injury update?
"Anthony Martial, he is not available. He is back on the pitch but not in the team training. Christian Eriksen returned in the team training today and we have to see how that works out, how he will recover, whether tomorrow he has the energy. So we have to wait for that. They [Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Donny van de Beek] are making good progress, all, and they will all return in team training this week. I see good progress with Brandon Williams. He returned on the pitch, individual-based. Axel [Tuanzebe] is still in, working inside so he's not back on the pitch. I think it will be difficult for Axel to return before Christmas. Brandon probably [won't be] back in the squad for the games, but probably in the training for the team training."
Thoughts on Conte?
"He's a fabulous manager. He's winning titles, trophies in the Premier League, in Italy, and you can really see his signature in the match from his team and that's a big compliment I think. [His teams are] really well organised, in and out of possession, in an intense way.”
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Has Eriksen surprised you?
"No. I have known him a long time, because everyone knows he developed in Ajax. So I knew him from the Netherlands but also we faced him. As a manager, we faced him, so I know his capabilities, and I was so happy that we could sign him. I think he proved, from the first day, how important he is to our game."
On Ronaldo's reaction to being subbed vs Newcastle.
"I think no player is happy when he [is taken] off, and especially not Ronaldo, I understand that. As long as it is [done] in a quite a normal way, [I have] no problem with that. He is, of course, convinced that he should stay on and he should score a goal. That is why he is that good."
Is Ronaldo's hat-trick last season vs Spurs in your thoughts for team selection?
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"I know it, but, and, of course, when you line up several facts you take count of, but also other facts you take count of."
Response to charge against Newcastle for failing to control players?
"My response to the charge? Yeah, it was - I must say I don't think it was too strong. It was not really aggressive but I don't know what's exactly happening on the pitch because, for me, it was too far away. I have seen it back on video [and] there was a touch from a player from Newcastle, that was quite clear, and then they go to the ref to ask about it."
Thoughts on respect for referees?
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"First of all, I want to express that we have always accepted the referee's decisions. But it's also quite normal that you ask why. In the moment, it was a curious incident [so] you ask as a team why. But my view is, finally, quite quickly you have to accept the referee's decision. It's the VAR so okay, we have to accept it. And then you have to move on. We are an example for amateurs, an example for youth. [We are] professional players, quite clear. So we have to know our role. But it's also about professional football, so once again when it's a decision like this, and, once again, it was quite obvious the player touched the ball for Newcastle and so our players took advantage from it so you ask 'so why?' But then he explained and it has to be quite soon that it's done, clear."
How do you plan for the season in this busy campaign?
"From the start of the season, we did that, tried to plan that, the overload of players. You see around, with many clubs now, injuries are coming up. And you can't avoid everything because it's top football. In top football, they go to the limits and injuries will come. With this many games in a long season, and also what's a huge problem is that players don't get a break in the summer. So [there is] a huge overload on the players, so they can't recover, so you have to manage that. So you have to protect the players as a manager to get the best out of them. Not only from the risk of injury but also to keep them in the right form in the end of the season. You have to rotate, you need a squad. You need more than 11 players so you can rotate and you have to keep everyone fresh to avoid big injuries as much as you can, and to get them in the right shape and to keep them in the right shape and the right form."
Is lack of goalscoring a concern?
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“I think Rashy [Marcus Rashford] scored five goals out of 11, Antony wasn’t involved in the first games but scored three in his first four appearances, Jadon Sancho scored three goals, Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals, [Anthony] Martial, don’t forget him, he scored also three goals. So, I think we have players who can be productive, so that matter of fact is not a real concern.”
On Bruno having one goal in 13 appearances.
“Yeah but I think Bruno is playing really good this season, so I can see in that fact, he can produce more goals, assists. But I think he’s often in the line of the goal and he’s playing a massive role in a lot of moments of football for us: in building up attacks, creativity, movement, but also in transitions, in both sides, in the defensive transitions he’s magnificent and doing a really good job so I’m really happy with his performances.”
On Bruno being captain.
“That’s also one of the things [he’s impressed me with], I think he’s really an example. The way he transfers the way of play from us, how he motivates around him, how he is the example, so the energy he gives to the team, that’s really good and so I’m happy with his performance. I know it will come, his goals and assists, and it will be even more.”
Do you want to extend David de Gea's contract?
“We didn’t make a decision on him but what I can say is I’m really happy with David De Gea as a ‘keeper. The first two games of the season were not his best performances but after it, you see he brings us a lot for the defence, the defensive department, he gives stability and, as a person also, I like him. I can cooperate really well with him but first we go to the winter and then we will talk about how we deal with situations.”
What about the likes of Diogo Dalot, Fred and Marcus Rashford?
"In this moment, we only think about performing, we have a lot of games to go so I don’t want to get interfered by talks, we have to focus on football, on performances and not negotiating, so that’s what we’ll do now.”
Will that motivate certain players and give them incentive to work even harder?
“It’s something from the head, some players get motivated when they play for a contract if you mean that, but it’s not that. Why we handle it like this is we want to restore Man United, we want to develop the squad, develop the team, bring everything to a better level. We work on the way we play, we work on the culture and we need, of course, quality players who are highly motivated. Such players, we are looking for, and luckily, we have them in the squad and I am quite happy with the squad, the way they work, the motivation, they all have [it], and I think the cooperation is quite good.”
Are you happy with the team so far?
“Yeah. I’m a person that’s never satisfied, I’m happy to be here but I’m not satisfied with where we are, but I also know that I’m a little bit impatient. I know that good is not good enough, we have to do better and I see many things we can do better. But also, I see improvement, so I think when we keep going in this process, we will improve further and the results will be even better.”
Could you expect better than fifth considering the transfer window?
“I think that’s a good question and there are obviously many problems, we have to integrate many players. We still have to deal with some problems in [the] offence from the start: Cristiano Ronaldo not being available at the start of the season, Anthony Martial he has almost not been on the pitch, I think he didn’t play one full game yet. So, I’m sure, that will be better [than] when your two number nines are not there. When they are present and fit, in a good competitive shape, then I think results from the team will improve.”
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester United, Premier League, Football, Tottenham Hotspur, Erik Ten Hag