On Wednesday, Old Trafford was alive with excitement as Jadon Sancho came to the rescue and scored a crucial equalizing goal for Manchester United, saving the team a point. Erik Ten Hag, the team’s manager, spoke to the press following the game about the impact of injuries on the team and how they are adjusting to the new players.
“It’s not easy when you have to replace some players,” the manager began, “so the routines are not there, that’s obvious. Last week, we tried out a new holding midfield pairing with Casemiro and Eriksen, and it worked really well. However, due to Christian Eriksen’s injury, we had to bring in another player, and the entire midfield construction is new, so it takes time to rebuild the routines. But I still think we played well yesterday; we just lacked a little bit of sharpness.”
Jadon Sancho’s performance since the World Cup was also brought up by the manager. “I believe he is doing well and has an impact on our game. I believe he is a threat, and he had good actions, was lively, and created opportunities yesterday. However, as a winger, it is critical to be on the scoring and assist list and have a positive impact on the game by scoring goals and assisting. Of course, we expect him to do more, but that’s the foundation. The rest is important as well, but if you can’t do the basics, you must.”
When asked about Garnacho”s frustration after being substituted against Palace, the manager said, “I don’t think it’s about him not understanding the decision, it’s quite emotional. His strength is bringing the game, and he wants to win, play football, and not miss a minute of it. He believes in himself completely, which is a good thing, but he needs to calm down and accept decisions. He understands that the team always comes first. When he is substituted, his frustration is not with the decision, but with his refusal to accept it.”
The manager was also questioned about the rumors of a European Super League and his thoughts on it. “I’m aware of the dynamics going on in international football, but if new ideas come up, I have to look at it and make an opinion. Currently, I must devote all of my energy to developing this team and bringing in new players, so that is my primary focus. I’ll look into new European competitions when the time comes, but the current structure has no major flaws in my opinion. I believe the current structure is adequate, but there will always be initiatives to improve it, and that is what life is all about: people always want to build something better. It’s always good if it’s in favor of football.”
To summarize, Manchester United is dealing with injuries and adjusting to new players, but the manager remains upbeat and optimistic about the team’s future. The possibility of a European Super League is still being discussed, but the manager is aware of the dynamics and will make a decision when the time is right. The team has two big European nights coming up in the Europa League against Barcelona, and it will be interesting to see how they perform.
