2
Manchester United manager Erik ten Haag has highlighted the difficulty of finding the balance between not rushing players back but fielding the most competitive team possible against Brighton and Hove Albion.
The 2023/2024 Premier League has certainly been one of the most challenging for the club’s supporters as they have fallen down the table and been on the wrong side of some dreadful results.
The club sit on a goal difference of minus three after 37 games and currently sit eighth in the table ahead of the final round of fixtures later this afternoon.
However, the fans remained loyal to the team and it showed in the great atmosphere at Old Trafford in both games against Arsenal and Newcastle United.
An even bigger example was the throngs of United fans who traveled to London for a bank holiday on Monday to support their team and stayed until the end to applaud the players despite the lifeless 4-0 drubbing.
Speaking to the club’s official website ahead of the crucial game against Brighton, Ten Haag commented on the importance of cultivating a strong relationship between players and fans.
“It’s fantastic to feel that fight, to feel the strong bond between the team and the fans, and we’ve seen that throughout the season and in difficult moments,” he said. “They’re always there for us and they always support the team, they’ve stuck with us and it’s a fantastic feeling, if you can build such a strong relationship.”
“We invested a lot, the fans and the team, in difficult times. Stay with each other and you’ll have a good time, and I’m sure good times will come. We are building, the fans see and recognize it and, of course, count on us. We have to pay them back.”
The Dutchman also praised his side’s efforts against Newcastle on Wednesday as they managed to win their final home match of the season and stay in contention for European football going into the final day of the season.
“I think it was a good performance and we achieved good levels – as a team and as individuals. As you say, we scored great goals. It was nice to watch and finish well at Old Trafford, but we still have two games to go and the season is not over.”
Ten Haag was then asked once again to comment on the injury problems that have plagued him this season.
“We have a few days to go, but there are players coming back. They are desperate to play every minute and, of course, definitely in the final in a week’s time, but we have a very important game coming up on Sunday.”
He claimed he wanted to strike a balance between not rushing players back but fielding the strongest possible squad to get a much-needed win to pile the pressure on Newcastle at Brentford.
“We will put (-up) what is strong and the strongest that we have. But, at the same time, we have to find a balance, to try and get the players who are coming back from injury back on the field.”
Ten Haag also spoke about the return of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez and claimed that Bruno is the least of his worries about the player’s good form this season.
“He (Fernandes) is fresh and in very good shape, but the others you mentioned, that’s important. They missed some games. Rashford, from Coventry, but of course Licha Martinez has missed almost the whole season I would say. So every minute he can get, we have to give him.”
The former Ajax manager, who could be in charge of his final league game as Red Devils manager, praised the style of play of his opponents but also promised United would cause them problems of their own.
The Seagulls have been a tough nut to crack of late as they have beaten United in their last four league meetings.
“We have to make sure that we are dangerous for them and we have to prepare the team very well because we know that we play in a typical style, a style that I admire. But they also have weaknesses and we have to take advantage of those weaknesses, as you should.”
Ten Haag also spoke in the pre-match press conference about the return of three key players to the game, which combined with the above comments could give a hint about his team selection today.
Want to be the first to hear the latest Man United news? For handpicked, key updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.