Erik ten Hag pre-press conference; Every statement, on Harry Kane, Harry Maguire, Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie, Amad covered ahead of wolves fixture
Erik ten Hag will attend to questions thrown by the media on Friday ahead of Man United’s opening game of the season.
United manager Erik ten Hag will speak to journalists on Friday afternoon ahead of Monday’s match against Wolves.
The Premier League season officially starts tonight with Manchester City facing Burnley, but Man United will have to wait until just after the weekend to begin their campaign, as they will welcome Wolves to to their home stadium Old Trafford on Monday night.
Manchester United manager Ten Hag won the Carabao Cup, secured qualification for the Champions League and helped restore the connection between fans and the players in his first year in charge at Old Trafford and further improvement in 2023/24 is expected.
Wolves also find themselves disorganised after sacking Julen Lopetegui and replacing him with Gary O’Neill this week.
Ten Hag will preview the game at his press conference and likely give an update on transfers and team news.
Ten Hag speaks on Kane transfer
Erik ten Hag suggested United stayed on their strategy in moving for Rasmus Hojlund over Harry Kane.
Kane was Ten Hag’s preferred striker target but United were discouraged from bidding for the Tottenham talisman due to chairman Daniel Levy’s resistance to selling Kane to another Premier League club.
There are reported in April that United had no intention of “playing games” with Levy, having last signed a player from Tottenham in 2008 when Dimitar Berbatov joined on transfer deadline day.
United gives updates on six players
Erik ten Hag expects Harry Maguire to be available for Manchester United’s first game of the season against Wolves on Monday evening.
United accepted a £30million offer from West Ham United for Maguire in midweek but it is unclear if the 30-year-old wants to move to the London club.
The British star Maguire was stripped of the United captaincy last month, having lost his place after two games last season. The England international only started eight league games last term.
Ten Hag speaks on Kane transfer
Erik ten Hag suggested United stuck to their strategy in moving for Rasmus Hojlund over Harry Kane.
Kane was Ten Hag’s preferred striker target but United were discouraged from bidding for the Tottenham talisman due to chairman Daniel Levy’s resistance to selling Kane to another Premier League club.
The Manchester Evening News reported in April United had no intention of “playing games” with Levy, having last signed a player from Tottenham in 2008 when Dimitar Berbatov joined on transfer deadline day.
United gives updates on six players
Erik ten Hag expects Harry Maguire to be available for Manchester United’s first game of the season against Wolves on Monday evening.
United accepted a £30million offer from West Ham United for Maguire in midweek but it is unclear if the 30-year-old wishes to move to the London club.
Maguire was stripped of the United captaincy last month, having lost his place after two games last season. The England international only started eight league games last term.
Ten Hag on Glazers
“I think I’m confident, I’m sure the fans will assist the team. Last season, the connection between fans and team, we made it stronger before the season, you’ve seen that on the tour but back in the UK there’s a really strong support and a good vibe between the fans and the team.”
Will Maguire be available?
“Of course [Maguire will be available]. You go specific: Malacia will take some time, same as Amad and Kobbie, they are impact injuries, all the others like Henderson, Hojlund, quite short notice but what is the definition of it, but it will take a few weeks.
Ten Hag on injury news
“Some issues you mention from last season, like Malacia, he came to pre-season with an issue. We had 30 players on tour who were really fit and disappointment about Amad and disappointment about Kobbie as well, but that’s what happens when you go to the limits. Injuries are not avoidable but we have a strong squad and wii pick up from there.
That’s a wrap
That’s the end of the updates from today’s press conference, so recap every word below.
Kane continued
“We want to challenge and play the best. I don’t think that I have to go into that conversation [about why United didn’t sign Kane] or give an opinion about that. We are professional, the processes we do are really careful, we look into a lot of things but finally we make decisions, not overnight, we study every decision behind, we are happy with the squad we have behind us now.”
Ten Hag on Kane
“First of all, we have chosen a striker and we are really happy with our choice. He’s [Kane] a great striker, clear, a goal maker and apart from that he has all the conditions and abilities what you want to see in a striker. It’s a great miss for the Premier League, absolutely.”
Ten Hag on Glazers
“I think I’m confident, I’m very sure the fans will be behind the team. Last season, the connection between fans and team, They made it stronger in pre-season, you’ve seen that on the tour but back in the UK there’s a really strong support and a good vibe between the fans and the team.”
Will Maguire be available?
“Of course [Maguire will be available]. You go specific: Malacia will take some time, same as Amad and Kobbie, they are facing injuries, all the others like Henderson, Hojlund, quite short notice but what is the definition of it, but it will take a few weeks.”
Ten Hag on injury news
“Some issues you mention from last season, such as Malacia, he came to pre-season with an issue. We had 30 players on tour who were really fit and disappointment about Amad and disappointment about Kobbie absolutely, but that’s what happens when you get to the limits. Injuries are not avoidable but we have a strong squad and from there on we can pick a really strong team. And you see the two games last weekend of two teams, two strong sides.”
Ten Hag on Wolves
“Some uncertainty, we don’t comprehend but it’s up to them and we have to look at our own and prepare the game. That doesn’t change it makes it also easy. We analyse them but it’s always about how we play against an opponent, so it’s up to us.”
Opening fixture again
“We are very confident but also I want to mention pre-season doesn’t say anything, it’s friendly football. Though I never view a game as a friendly, it’s friendly in the sense of going. In the league, going for the points it’s a different approach for both teams. We are ready to go for the fight, the team is very energetic and we worked really good for pre-season and we go for it.”
Ten Hag on first game of season
“First, you can’t compare seasons with each other but I think we are much further than last season, but you can never compare games. Different opponents, we had a very good pre-season, our fitness levels are very good, we are on really good levels and I think also our performance levels during pre-season were on a high level.”
The latest on Hojlund
” As we said previously, he had a small issue and he’s not on the levels where our players are in this moment so we have to train him. Prognosis [is] difficult always to say. We are confident and we are positive.”
The opening league games
The Premier League season commence this weekend and these are the games lined up for Manchester United.
- Monday 14 August – United vs Wolves (H)
- Saturday 19 August – Tottenham vs United (A)
- Saturday 26 August – United vs Forest (H)
- Sunday 3 September – Arsenal vs United (A)
- Saturday 16 September – United vs Brighton (H)