Ten Hag Admits Manchester United Not Fully Prepared For Premier League Opener

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Erik ten Hag has expressed concerns about Manchester United's readiness for the Premier League season opener against Fulham on Friday. The team's pre-season was inconsistent, with only two wins out of five matches and three losses. They narrowly missed out on the Community Shield after a 1-1 draw with Manchester City, losing on penalties.

The Dutch manager faced difficulties during the USA tour as he couldn't work with his full squad. Players were given extended breaks following their participation in the Euros and Copa America. This limited time together has affected the team's cohesion ahead of their first league match.

Ten Hag recently added Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui to the squad. He acknowledged that integrating new players takes time, saying, "It's true [new players need time], it's not the pre-season where in five to six weeks you work on a team, it's very complicated." He emphasised that forming a cohesive team under these circumstances is challenging.

Despite these challenges, Ten Hag remains focused on making progress. "We have some room, have some principles, and we have to make a start," he stated. He stressed the importance of dealing with the situation head-on and improving performance levels game by game.

In his two seasons at Manchester United, Ten Hag has already made significant achievements. He ended the club's six-year trophy drought by winning the EFL Cup against Newcastle United in 2023 and clinching the FA Cup against Manchester City in May.

Aiming for More Success

Although they couldn't secure the Community Shield last Saturday, Ten Hag is determined to pursue more silverware this season. "We know our targets; we know our direction," he said. The manager highlighted that their expectations remain high as they aim for trophies.

Ten Hag's approach involves focusing on gradual improvement both individually and as a team. "We are not at 100% form, but we have to go from game to game to improve and to get higher performance levels," he mentioned. The process of building a strong team will be ongoing throughout the season.

The upcoming Premier League season presents an opportunity for Manchester United to build on their recent successes under Ten Hag's leadership. Despite initial challenges, there is optimism about achieving their goals.