Erik ten Hag expresses unexpected view on Manchester United’s attempt to win four trophies
Erik ten Hag claims that Manchester United players are relishing the fact that they are the only team in the country still competing on four fronts.
This weekend, United will host Reading in the FA Cup, and the club remains in contention for four trophies, including the Premier League, EFL Cup, and Europa League.
United will play 11 games in 42 days, beginning with Saturday’s match at Old Trafford, but Ten Hag says his players are up for the challenge despite the hectic schedule.
“That’s good, that’s why we need all the players we have in the squad here,” Ten Hag said of the jam-packed schedule. “To develop them, but especially to get the right results out of it. We want to stay in all of those competitions as long as possible, so we have to fight for that.
“That’s good for the development of this squad. If we’re ahead or not in the process, I don’t know. What we do is every day we have to give our maximum, because good is not good enough. We have to do better, so we keep going with the progress.
“It’s never at an end. We have to approach it like that. If we’re ahead or not in the process, it’s not that important – it’s where we are now. We want to win every game. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is.”
Regarding United’s grueling schedule, Ten Hag stated, “It’s tough, but I think it’s always better to have games than training. Players like more games than they like training, so we’re looking forward. There’s a good spirit and a good mood in this dressing room to cope with that.”
Jadon Sancho could make his first appearance in 14 weeks in the fourth-round match against Reading.
Ten Hag stated last month that the winger was “not in the right status or fitness state”, because he underwent an individual fitness program in the Netherlands instead of traveling to the squad’s winter camp in Spain.
Ten Hag stated that patience was of the utmost importance when it came to Sancho, who resumed group training last Tuesday after returning to Carrington in January.
“He is training with the team and we will see,” the United boss said of the 22-year-old, who last played in October’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea. “So, he’s improving, he’s making steps and we will make the decision after training.”
Pushed on whether Sancho could feature against Reading, Ten Hag replied: “I said he’s on the way back, he’s making steps. He’s back in team training and now we have to see when he’s ready to go back into the games.”
Erik ten Hag expresses unexpected view on Manchester United’s attempt to win four trophies
