Erik ten Hag, the head coach of Manchester United, has addressed the media ahead of Saturday’s early kickoff between the Red Devils and Wolves.
Ten Hag confirms United’s January striker hunt
To have adequate coverage for the hectic second half of the season, Erik ten Hag thinks Manchester United has to increase their choices for strikers in the January transfer window.
That is a problem the United manager is eager to address since there will be a surge of fixtures as clubs make up time following the winter World Cup.
“I believe we have a squad who fit our requirements,” he stated. “But every game is approaching. It’s fierce competition in every league, and we want to play in whatever league we find ourselves in and in the cups.” “So, to cover, we need players and numbers.
Therefore, we require quality players and a sufficient number of players to cover. Additionally, we require competitiveness and the knowledge to make tactical decisions.”
“So, we are looking for the best player for our team, but it needs to fit both certain financial criteria as well as our sporting standards, without a doubt.”
Ten Hag on new striker: “We’re looking for the right player for our squad and that has to match sporting criteria but also financial criteria”. 🔴 #MUFC @sistoney67
“Wan Bissaka? The break was good for him. Now he has played two games and is doing really well. We needed that”. pic.twitter.com/isCpd0ebju
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2022
Ten Hag: Sancho is progressing but is not ready to return
Jadon Sancho will continue to train separately from his teammates. At the same time, Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff looks closely at the winger, who has not played since October 22.
Sancho is still not ready to rejoin the group for training, according to Ten Hag at the press conference on Friday (via Manchester Evening News): “Yes, of course, there is coming a moment but the time is not now.”
“However, he is improving. When he is prepared to rejoin the squad, we will determine. He has returned to Manchester. He will begin his training on his own.”
Sancho won’t be available for Saturday’s match against the Wolves.
Ten Hag on Sancho: “Of course there is coming a time but the time is not now, he is making progress, we will see when he is ready. He is back in Manchester, he will start in individual training.” #MUFC
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) December 30, 2022
Erik Ten Hag stresses the importance of the impact of substitutes
Under Erik, ten Hag, Manchester United is steadily moving up the Premier League standings, and the Dutchman’s club is starting to resemble a well-coordinated one.
The manager has demonstrated an impressive ability to alter the outcome of a game with his substitutes. In remarks made before this weekend’s encounter at Wolves, he emphasized the significance of substitutes’ impact on the game.
Ten Hag is quoted on the official Manchester United website as saying, “We need impact from the bench.”
“And I’m pleased that Fred, a player who came off the bench, is scoring a goal once more. All of the substitutes who were used [against Forest] performed a great job.”
“When it comes to attacking, you need individuals off the bench who can make a difference in the match. Whether you need a goal or someone who can launch a counterattack if you are ahead.”
🗣 Erik ten Hag on substitutes:
"We need impact from the bench. I am happy once again a player was coming from the bench; Fred is scoring a goal and I think all the subs who came in tonight [vs Nottingham] did really well."#MUFC || #WOLMUN
— United View (@unitedviewtv) December 30, 2022
Ten Hag on Arron Wan-Bissaka’s future
Under Ten Hag, the full-back appeared to be headed for the exits. Still, he has played in the last two games while Diogo Dalot recovers from a hamstring injury acquired in the World Cup.
“In the first half of the season, he was either injured or ill. So he didn’t have a position in the squad,” according to Ten Hag. “First you have to be on the pitch.”
“He benefited from the break. He was eligible for two games at the training camp in Spain. He’s played two games now and is doing fantastic. The squad needed to be competitive.”
