Erik ten Hag spoke openly at his press conference ahead of the new season an admitted Manchester United had been dealt a tough hand.
Rarely do players have a real break nowadays. After playing the Euro 2024 final on July 14, Kobbie Mainoo was back starting in the Community Shield on August 10.
Ahead of Manchester United’s opening fixture against Fulham, Erik ten Hag admitted he wished his team had a little more time to prepare, a common sentiment, surely, among other Premier League bosses as 2024/25 kicks off.
Erik ten Hag explained: “It’s true it’s not the pre-season where you can in five, six weeks work on the team. It’s very complicated.
“We had the USA tour squad, then we add the players who did the Euros and Copa America, and now new signings and now we have to make a team from it.
“That team is not ready, but the league starts – and there are more managers to deal with this problem.”
Erik ten Hag words twisted
Erik ten Hag did his best to explain Manchester United’s situation, only for the media to jump on his quotes and take them out of context to try and rile up supporters, or put pressure on the manager.
“Man Utd ‘not ready’ for Fulham – Ten Hag” – was the headline ran on BBC Sport.
The Mail’s headline reads: “Erik ten Hag warns Man United are ‘NOT ready’ for the new Premier League campaign ahead of Fulham opener”.
While The Times’ headline is: “Erik ten Hag: Manchester United not ready for Premier League season.”
All of these outlets know what they are doing. Erik ten Hag is making a very reasonable point, which has been seized on, and hammered.
Manchester United players just need more time
Erik ten Hag’s point is very reasonable. Manchester United had eight players at Euro 2024, and three at the Copa America.
Most of these players have had just one game in pre-season. New signing Joshua Zirkzee has not played at all in pre-season, and nor has Matthijs de Ligt.
United are also dealing with injuries to Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro.
In an ideal world, pre-season would be beginning now, but as Ten Hag explains, that’s not the case, and United simply have to get on with it.
The team do have enough players to put out a very strong side for the league opener, several of who have had full pre-seasons, Andre Onana, Casemiro, Marcus Rashford, Amad, for instance.
United ‘not being ready’ is not down to any incompetence on the club’s part, as the media headlines would suggest it might be. Instead it is purely down to the ridiculously relentless nature of the football calendar, which cares not one bit for player welfare.
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