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Erik ten Hag has revealed Manchester United stay “desperate to do enterprise” this summer time as he watched his aspect fall to a disappointing 3-0 loss to Liverpool final evening.
The 2 bitter rivals confronted off in opposition to one another final evening on the Williams-Worth Stadium in South Carolina in United’s ultimate recreation of their US pre-season tour. It was a full home with over 77,000 followers in attendance.
Ten Hag was compelled to discipline a mismatch aspect owing to a mix of damage and absence to first-team stars, triggering recollections of final season’s struggles. And whereas the ultimate outcome – a 3-0 defeat – may have raised eye-brows to those that didn’t watch, those that did would have seen an affordable efficiency by United, marred by a scarcity of effectivity which Liverpool didn’t fall foul of.
United pressed nicely and created a bunch of alternatives which they did not capitalise upon. Liverpool took half as many photographs as their North West rivals, however scored three targets from 5 makes an attempt on track – effectivity.
With Rasmus Hojlund set for an prolonged interval on the aspect line with a hamstring damage, and Joshua Zirkzee but to play a minute together with his new aspect, United’s lack of scientific edge will pose a query for Ten Hag going into the brand new season.Jadon Sancho, beginning up entrance as a false-nine, was constructive however doesn’t look the answer, whereas different choices (Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes) are greatest deployed elsewhere.
It’s the same case of uncertainty within the backline with United’s first-choice defenders all unavailable for a wide range of completely different causes.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka began at right-back, maybe taking part in his final recreation for the membership amid studies of an imminent transfer to West Ham, as Diogo Dalot was unable to hitch the tour owing to his EURO 2024 marketing campaign earlier this summer time.
Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez additionally stay in England after their worldwide commitments, forcing Ten Hag to start out Jonny Evans and Harry Amass at centre-back and left-back respectively, with extra senior deputies (Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia) unavailable.
Leny Yoro stays on the membership’s tour regardless of an unlucky metatarsal damage ruling him out for the following three months. Victor Lindelof, additionally linked with a transfer away from Outdated Trafford, began in his place.
A disjointed defence outlined final season in all of the fallacious methods and it felt like a well timed reminder of this lack of depth with 4 weeks of the summer time window left. It’s one other query which wants a solution, or two, earlier than September 1.
Ten Hag is evidently conscious of those points, reassuring followers in an interview after the match that the “new management staff is actually desperate to do enterprise” with robust hyperlinks with strikes for Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte persevering with. “They’re on it,” Ten Hag revealed.
“The brand new management staff is actually desperate to do enterprise” 👀
Erik ten Hag on the potential of latest signings at Manchester United this summer time 📝 pic.twitter.com/7H7lGDVms5
— Sky Sports activities Information (@SkySportsNews) August 4, 2024
United’s new govt department – comprising Omar Berrada (CEO), Dan Ashworth (Sporting Director) and Jason Wilcox (Technical Director) – have all begun work at Outdated Trafford this summer time after being particularly head-hunted by INEOS.
Early offers for Zirzkee and Yoro had been agreed however the membership’s restricted finances imply United should now promote earlier than they will sanction any additional offers for brand spanking new gamers.
With the departures of Wan-Bissaka and Scott McTominay wanting more and more shut, in addition to the membership’s want to promote Lindelof, it probably can be a case of ‘one in, one out’ at Outdated Trafford this month. If offers could be agreed for all three to exit, Mazraoui (RB), De Ligt (CB) and Ugarte (CM) will represent vital upgrades of their respective positions.
The very fact United’s new leaders are speaking to their supervisor how “keen” they’re to finish these much-needed offers gives optimism they are going to be accomplished this month.
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