In his post-match interview, United manager Jens Ten Hagar gave a comprehensive review of his team's 1-2 defeat against Arsenal in the warm-up match but 4-3 win on penalties, showing his deep understanding of the team's current situation and positive outlook for future matches.
Ten Hagar began by recognizing the high level of the game as a valuable training opportunity for both sides in their pre-season preparations. He especially praised the team's excellent performance in the first half, especially Rashford's precise long pass and Hoylum's wonderful goal, which showed the team's tacit understanding and efficiency in the attacking end. At the same time, Ten Hag pointed out with regret that the team failed to take full control of the game after creating more chances, resulting in an equalizer by the opponent, and emphasized the impact of a conceded goal that was suspected to be offside on the outcome of the game.
For Hoylen's breakaway goal, Ten Hagar spoke highly of his powerful presence on the field, his ability to pose a threat to any defense, and his excellent goal-scoring ability. This is further proof of Hoylen's importance and potential in the team.
Regarding the withdrawal of Hoylen and Yoro due to injuries, Ten Hag said that the exact extent of their injuries is not yet known and that they need to wait for further results of the tests for more than 24 hours. He specifically mentioned the cautious approach to Yoro, as he only participated in 50% of the training volume, which shows the importance that the coaching staff places on the health of the players. At the same time, Ten Hagar remained optimistic and hoped that the players would recover and return to the field as soon as possible.
Regarding the massive substitutions in the second half, Ten Hagar explained that it was to try out different line-up combinations and tactical play. He admitted that the new lineup still had some problems with fit, especially new face James Scanlon at the wingback position who struggled a bit against the experienced players in the Premier League. However, Ten Hagar also recognized the improvement in the overall performance of the team and believes that the team would have had a chance to collect a draw.
Speaking about the penalty shootout victory, Ten Hag emphasized its importance. He noted that the team needs to be ready for the various cup competitions they will be participating in, so playing well in the penalty shootout was crucial. He particularly praised goalkeeper Onana for his outstanding performance in the penalty shootout, crediting his two brilliant saves for the team's victory. Tenhag also said that apart from one penalty that was missed, all the other penalties were played very well.
Finally, Ten Hag looked ahead to the next match against Real Betis. He reminded the players that time is running out and that they need to be in shape and ready to go quickly. He emphasized the importance of getting back into shape and expects the team to continue to show good athleticism in Thursday's match.
