Manchester United will host Tottenham Hotspur in the 6th round of the English Premier League on September 29th at 23:30 GMT. Before the match, the Red Devils' manager, Jens Ten Hagar, was interviewed by the media and expressed his views on topics such as season goals, how to cope with external pressures, and the construction of the United's lineup.
Ten Hagar began by talking about United's decision to opt for using young players over the past two seasons. He said that despite United's illustrious history, the club faced a number of constraints, financial and otherwise, and therefore chose this path. He acknowledged that the young players are not yet at the level expected of them, but emphasized the importance of allowing them to improve, as well as the need to find a team that can succeed on a consistent basis. Ten Hag pointed out that this team has proven itself in the last two years, winning trophies, but must be more consistent.
Speaking about Champions League qualification, Ten Hagar said that it is a goal that United must achieve. He emphasized that the club has the ambition to show itself on the biggest stage and therefore must win the trophy. He mentioned that there are two ways for United to qualify for the Champions League: through the Premier League standings and by winning the UEFA Cup.
Regarding the building of United's squad, Ten Hagar believes that the club has done a good job despite the constraints faced. He emphasized that he must now work with the team to improve it. Ten Hag said that United have a good squad but also have young players who need to improve. He has set high goals and wants to achieve them this season and beyond.
Speaking about how he deals with outside pressure, Ten Hagar said he respects the criticism but it is impossible to consider all of it. He believes that staying calm and methodically guiding the team on the right track is crucial. He emphasized the need to know where the team is at, what needs to be improved, and taking the right steps to get the team to play at its best.
Finally, Ten Hagar talked about United being in the spotlight. He said that it is normal for United to be judged by outsiders in every game. He admitted that everyone expects United to win, which is no secret to anyone. Ten Hag points out that one has to deal with that when working at United, and the team does. He believes that United is moving in a good direction in many aspects at the competitive level over the past few weeks, but now needs to be more efficient and score more goals to win games.
