On the eve of the upcoming Community Shield final between Manchester United and Manchester City, United manager Jens Ten Hagar was interviewed by the media, detailing a number of aspects of the team's preparations, injury management, the integration of new recruits and the team's competitive spirit.
Injury management: caution first, prevention first
Ten Hagar expressed caution about the injury situation in the squad. He emphasized that some players are currently in the recovery phase, both as part of pre-season preparations and for precautionary reasons. Ten Hag pointed out that the team will not risk players in a way that could lead to prolonged absences and affect the overall strength of the team.
Newcomer Zylkiser: gradual integration, still needs time
As for new signing Zilkzer, Ten Hag said that he has started to participate in the full training of the team, but it still takes time to integrate into the new environment. Ten Hag recognizes that Zielkirchner's experience in several leagues will help him to adapt to the Premier League. However, he also admitted that the Premier League is much more intense and it will take time for both Zielkiser and the team to adapt, which will take a few weeks.
Competitive spirit: Challenges are everywhere, stability is key
Ten Hagar emphasized United's competitive spirit, saying that the team will challenge to win all tournaments. He specifically mentioned the victory in the FA Cup as a reflection of the team's competitiveness. However, he also pointed out that United needs to improve in terms of consistency as there are no low level teams in the Premier League and every team must go all out for points.
Pre-season preparations: complex and urgent
Ten Hagar revealed the complexity of pre-season preparation. With players taking part in tournaments such as the Europa League and Copa America, they are in a state of dispersion during pre-season preparations, with different playing styles and rhythms. Ten Hag said that the team needed time to integrate these elements and find the right playing style and pattern. He admitted that United may be at a disadvantage in their pre-season preparations compared to other teams with fewer international players, but the team must solve this problem as soon as possible to ensure a smooth start to the new season.
Community Shield outlook: confident and cautious
Regarding the upcoming Community Shield final, Ten Hagar said that Manchester United have proven themselves capable of beating Manchester City. He emphasized that although winning the FA Cup is more important than the Community Shield, the team is still eager to win every game. At the same time, he also said that the team will not risk using injured players because from the experience of last season, the health of players is the key for the team to achieve good results. Ten Hagar believes that only by ensuring the availability of players, United can achieve better results in the new season.
