Erik ten Hag insists he's 'strong' enough to put things right

11/03/2023 Soccer

Man United boss Erik ten Hag insists he’s ‘strong’ enough to put things right after poor start to the season… as he acknowledges his struggling side ‘have to win’ ahead of trip to Fulham

  • Erik ten Hag takes his team to Fulham following back-to-back 3-0 home losses
  • The Dutchman insists he is the man to put things right after a tough start 
  • Big debates on Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal on It’s All Kicking Off podcast

Erik ten Hag says he will not buckle under the pressure of managing Manchester United.

Ten Hag takes his struggling team to Fulham in the Premier League tomorrow on the back of consecutive home 3-0 defeats to Newcastle and Manchester City.

The Old Trafford boss is taking flak from all sides but insists he is the man to put things right.

‘The players are positive,’ said Ten Hag today.

‘They want to put this right. We know the standards here and we have to match the standards every day.

Erik ten Hag insists he is the man to put things right after a tough start to the season

Manchester United go into the game against Fulham on the back of consecutive 3-0 defeats 

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‘We had two big setbacks but the staff is strong and the manager is strong to put it right.

‘We have to win and we can’t find excuses. We have to win. That is the demand and I can’t walk away from that.’

United will welcome Rafael Varane back from injury tomorrow at Craven Cottage but may be missing Victor Lindelof who has been unwell.

Asked if his players lack fight, Ten Hag said: ‘That is not right. You can’t say that. Remember the fight we showed against Brentford. If there wasn’t spirit in the dressing room and characters in the dressing room, you couldn’t do this.’

Ten Hag is also under scrutiny after appearing to say after the City defeat that his team could not play the attractive football his old Ajax team was known for.

Appearing to suggest that his comments had been misunderstood, Ten Hag added: ‘It’s totally wrong [to say] that I can’t play like Ajax with different players.

‘I came here with my philosophy based on possession but also to combine it with the DNA of Manchester United and the characteristics of the players.

‘We played very good football last season. This season the philosophy is not different.

Raphael Varane has offered a boost for the Red Devils as he is ready to feature against Fulham

‘We go more direct, but the explanation for direct is not that I want to go for long balls. No, I don’t.

‘But when the opponent is going in high press, it is a good option to go direct. I explained it on tour in the USA how we want to play.

‘We want to press from different blocks and then go direct because we have the players like Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojland and then the full-backs joining in.

‘I explained it very clearly.’

On the day it emerged that Jim Ratcliffe’s imminent investment in United is set to include money for the regeneration of Old Trafford, Ten Hag was asked if he wanted any money for new players.

Ten Hag said he’s ‘not thinking about transfers’ on day it emerged that Jim Ratcliffe’s imminent investment in United is set to include money for the regeneration of Old Trafford

‘I have a good squad and I am convinced about the players in this dressing room,’ he said.

‘They can do a lot better but that is up to me. I have the responsibility to let them play better and I will put every effort in.

‘I am not thinking about transfers.’

Despite his drop-off in form, he is still remarkably their top scorer this term with four goals in all competitions. 

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