Erik ten Hag is adamant that his Manchester United tenure would be viewed very differently had he been able to call upon key players more regularly, claiming injuries have scuppered progress at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag’s side host Everton in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off with Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans declared fit. Harry Maguire remains out while Ten Hag is likely to field Victor Lindelof again at left-back as the Dutchman is once more faced with fitting square pegs into round holes.
After 100 games in charge of United, Ten Hag has won 61 and lifted the Carabao Cup. His win percentage is higher than that of Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp during the same timeframe following their appointments at Arsenal and Liverpool respectively.
“It tells that we are in the right direction,” said Ten Hag.
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Watch highlights from Manchester City’s match against Manchester United in the Premier League.
“Imagine if we had many more players available and not so many setbacks in injuries. It shows that this team has a bright future when the players are available.
“When you compare it to other managers in the past at other cubs and indeed here, it shows that there is a bright future. There’s a good balance in the squad of young and experienced players together. Imagine if they were all available.
“No team can deal with so many injuries, I think we played to maximum levels if you take in respect the availability of the players. We missed so many key players over the part of the season. The performances we have seen when the players are available in January and February are very good.
“When the players were not even fit they could do even better.”
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Erik Ten Hag says that Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans have recovered well after coming off during the Manchester derby, and insists that other big names such as Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Harry Maguire are not far off from returning.
United are currently sixth in the Premier League, 11 points off Aston Villa in fourth place. But for the first time, five Premier League teams could qualify for the Champions League through their league position.
So is the priority still qualifying for Europe, or does winning the FA Cup now supersede league form? Ten Hag is solely focused on the next game in front of him.
“The project is going in the right direction when we have the players available,” he said. “Top football is about winning games. We’re working, keep working on better performances. We want to play on maximum levels and when the players are available, good players, in key positions you miss players who have a very high impact on the way we want to play.
Marcus Rashford is fit to face Everton on Saturday
“We want to be successful, we need to be successful. Sometimes seasons are going like we are now in but we don’t accept that. We will fight. We have problems and have had problems with the squad injury-wise but with the players available we will fight. It doesn’t matter who is the opposition, we go for the win.”
On the challenge of facing Everton this weekend, Ten Hag said: “It’s very clear, you can see his handwriting and the style of play at Everton, since the moment he [Sean Dyche] took over last season. He made them very fit and has created a good structure. We know what we have to do to beat them.”
Ten Hag also confirmed that Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Rasmus Hojlund are all expected to be available for United’s next game against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday March 17.
Hojlund named February PL player of the month
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Manchester Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund reflects on the goals that saw him win the Premier League Player of the Month award and says the best was the one off his chest against Luton.
Hojlund has won the Premier League Player of the Month award for February. The 21-year-old Dane enjoyed a fruitful month, scoring five goals and providing one assist in four Premier League games – all of which Erik ten Hag’s side won.
He becomes the second Manchester United player to win the award this season after Harry Maguire claimed the prize in November.
Ten Hag said: “We’ve missed him a lot but we have to do it with the players we have available. I won’t complain and we have to get the best our of the players we do have. That’s our aim.”
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