Gary Neville interviews Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag: Harry Kane, Rasmus Hojlund and Man Utd’s playing styles | Football News
In front of Monday night football, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag spoke to Celestial Sports’ Gary Neville to talk about Harry Kane’s target, Rasmus Hojlund’s positivity, plus the club’s model and playing styles.
Ten Hag reaches the end of his second season at the club, which has seen several ups and downs on and off the field.
Man Utd have struggled with a number of injuries – particularly at centre-back and left-back – which Ten Hag points out repeatedly in his conversation with former Man Utd defender Neville.
Before facing Crystal Palace on Monday live on Celestial sportsTen Hag covers this and more when speaking to Neville…
Ten Hag: You can’t compare different players like Kane and Hojlund
“This club can only have excellent players because expectations are very high. Manchester United is the biggest, or maybe the second or third biggest club in the world, the biggest fan base, so the expectations will always be there.
“Everyone has an opinion about Manchester United and they can only be excellent players.
“These are players who have the whole skill set, which is the set of physical and especially mental skills that they need to play and contribute, because we have to win every game. There is an expectation from us around every game, so you can only fulfill that expectation when you have those exceptional players.
“But in the last decade and in this period, we haven’t always gotten the players we want. But then you have to build and accept that we sign talent rather than players who have already proven themselves in the past.
“We had some choices made with talents like Rasmus Hojlund. I can see a striker who has already proven that, that we want to sign and we couldn’t get him. And so we looked for Rasmus because he is a talent.”
When asked if he was referring to Harry Kane: “Yes, and you know Harry Kane will score 30 goals. I think Rasmus will get there, but he needs time. It’s not fair to rate him in the same way as Harry Kane. I would never compare two players because they are very different.
“But with Hojlund, I think we had the most potential in the striker position last summer and we are very happy with him. But he also needs time to adapt and we are delighted that he has shown his talent in scoring goals.
“He had a very good period, where he scored a lot of games after showing that, but before and after he had some physical problems, which is normal for a young player who is coming. what you have to accept.
“Then you go back to the fans and opinion makers, and they don’t understand or don’t want to understand this. It’s how Man United are judged, they only see the result, but we need time.
“You have to accept that the process is going slower and you cannot expect a straightforward conclusion. [away] compete for titles in the Champions League and Premier League.”
Ten Hag on Man Utd’s game model
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag sits down with Gary Neville to discuss the club’s structure, working with new ownership INEOS and more.
Jason Wilcox was recently appointed technical director at Man Utd, with a focus on a “game model” – where all teams at a club play in the same way, like Ten Hag’s former team Ajax.
“There is a game model here. How do you think [Alejandro] Can Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo climb? That’s because one of my goals from the previous leadership team was to bring this in-house.
“It was already happening, they were already improving the gym. You can see they’ve won the FA Youth Cup, the academy teams are becoming champions and that’s the structure that was set up a few years ago.
“Now you see some revenue from this, and the best thing is to bring the players [into] the first team as Kobbie and Garnacho.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag plays down talk of a summer release of players from the club
“They are very young players and already international players for England and Argentina. They are at a very good level and are one of the best players at the moment in their countries and they are world-class nations.
“They bring the required levels, but we need more of these players because football is happening very quickly. Developments are happening very quickly, so you can’t stand still, you have to make new improvements all the time so that the role of a technical director, working on a game model, is the right choice.
“There is a basis here and the proof is also there.
“The initial meetings are good… now we have to do things quickly because the summer is coming. It’s a very important period where you enter a window. We want to take the next step in our squad and make plans to create an environment that avoid this year’s injury problems.”
Ten Hag on Man Utd’s style of play – and why it hasn’t worked this season
“Frustration [at the style of play not working] is not the right word because I am a realistic man. Last year when I came in, you make your adjustments, but at the end of the day, it’s all about winning games. Since last year, we have found a way to form a very successful team.
“This year we wanted to take the next step. We signed a goalkeeper who can play in defence, a dynamic midfielder like Mason Mount – who has been injured all season – and a goalscorer like Hojlund, who is young and needed time.
“On the one hand, we were quite confident that we made the right choices and that we can take the next step. But all the injuries are coming and we have made a lot of changes in some positions, like the four defenders.
“We’ve played 47 games and had 30 combinations in defense. These weren’t choices you made, they were forced choices because players got injured… anyone with even a modicum of knowledge about football, they will know this will have a huge impact.
“Then Casemiro was injured for a long period. We had so many problems in the team that it’s not always possible to play the way we want.
“But fans want to see a successful team, a team that is winning. What we always try to do, and it’s a compliment to the team, in every game they tried hard and had spirit.
“We made some adjustments to the way we play because when you don’t have a left-footed defender or left-back in the full-back position, you have to make adjustments that you want to play, so we did.
Sky Sports News’ Melissa Reddy explains why Erik ten Hag laughed off suggestions of an imminent exit from Manchester United’s summer squad
“We’re not where we want to be with how we want to play, but the headlines are still there because we want to be proactive, dynamic and we want to play with a high line.
“We made improvements. We scored more goals after the winter break and we were also more consistent. We didn’t have as many defeats in 2024 – just three defeats – but we drew too many. What we can do is put ourselves in a winning position, but then you you have to draw to get over the line.
“When there are so many changes in defense, the rules and principles remain the same, but the standards don’t exist. We don’t bring the results and we know it.”
Has Ten Hag ever thought about playing more defensively?
The Football Show’s Sam Blitz and Peter Smith take a closer look at the Manchester United squad and discuss who could be kept or sold this summer in a period of change at Old Trafford
“We thought about it, but one of my objectives here was to bring a proactive way of playing.
“Players will come back, so if you adjust, go into a very defensive style and don’t suit the players we already have, then if you don’t get the results and everyone will lose confidence.
“Then, when the players come back, you have to get back to being proactive and you’ve lost many times.
“At the same time, you see the proactive style. We improved our offensive game, scored more goals and were more consistent… we are making improvements, but not enough.
“We know that, we know what it requires and what the standards are. We want to get back to winning ways, so we have to take the next step. We have to get to a winning position and then surpass it.”
Gary Neville backs Erik ten Hag’s response to reports Manchester United will undergo a complete squad overhaul as a ‘joke’
Man Utd have also had over 600 shots on target this season – the most ever in the Premier League…
“I look at the statistics and it’s clear. Last season we had a consistent defense, we did the same and had the most clean sheets in the Premier League.
“So when everyone is fit, they can perform in the way we want to defend, but it also has something to do with possession of the ball. When you don’t have the players in defense and the standards, when you don’t have the left-handed players on the left side, you already have to make your adjustments.
“It changes the way you play, but also your possession of the ball and when you have less possession of the ball, you also have more shots.
“There are a few reasons why that happens, but I don’t think it has anything to do with how we want to play because this proves that. [last season]where we had the most clean sheets in the Premier League.”
Ten Hag on defending his players in the media and in the FA Cup final
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag praises Jadon Sancho after his recent performances for loanee Borussia Dortmund, but is not worried about his future at the club next season
“I have to defend the team against some injustice [in recent press conferences]. We can accept that, we know the standards and firstly we are not happy with the season but we know we can win a cup this season so stay positive.
“Everything is considered negative, but in our offensive game we improved throughout the season. Some young players are improving a lot and it’s unfair to say everything is bad.
“Furthermore, young players need time to reach their best level, but they have the potential they have shown this season and that is positive.
Gary Neville says he doesn’t want an excuse mentality to creep into the Manchester United dressing room
“Now we need a consistent team and when we have that, we are confident that we can bring more victories.
“We have two opportunities. Firstly, we have to defend our position in the league, so that is a focal point. Secondly, of course, we are going to the FA Cup final twice in two years, which is a great opportunity to win a cup again.
“Manchester Untied haven’t played in an FA Cup final so many times in two years and especially in the last 10 years. For this group of players, it’s a great opportunity that we need to take advantage of.”
The Football Show’s Sam Blitz and Peter Smith discuss the options open to Manchester United this summer with Jadon Sancho’s return to form
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