Erik ten Hag said Manchester United were ‘not ready’ for the resumption of the Premier League, with several players needing more time following a hectic summer.
The vast majority of United’s squad featured at Euro 2024 or Copa America over the summer and were therefore unable to enjoy a significant break following yet another gruelling Premier League campaign.
Ten Hag, speaking at his first pre-match press conference of the new season, admitted his team were ‘not ready’ but said this would be a problem faced by several of his colleagues in the early part of the season.
Manchester United kick-start the 2024-25 Premier League campaign on Friday night when Fulham visit Old Trafford.
Asked whether his players needed more time, Ten Hag said: ‘It’s true, it’s not the pre-season where in five to six weeks you work on a team, it’s very complicated.
‘The USA tour squad and then we added the players at Euros and Copa America and now new signings and we have to make a team from it.
‘That team is not ready but the league starts and more managers have this problem.
‘Still, we have some room, have some principles and we have to make a start. We can’t hide, we have to deal with it.’
Manchester United signed Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich earlier this week and both are available for Friday’s clash against Fulham.
‘They [new signings] will be in the squad and Harry Maguire will be in the squad as well,’ Ten Hag said.
‘Issues are there. But it’s not about those who are not available, same as last season it’s about who is available and we can put out a strong team, we will do.’
Ten Hag was expected to lose his job after Manchester United slumped to an eighth-place finish last season, but the Old Trafford hierarchy stuck with the Dutchman after the surprise FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
‘We know our targets, we know our direction,’ Ten Hag said of United’s prospects this season.
‘Now we have to integrate new players where we think they can improve the team levels and to take it from there.
‘Our expectations are always very high, we want to go for trophies.’
Pressed on how long it will take for Manchester United to be at full strength, Ten Hag added: ‘We are complete and we are now working together for 10 days and always it will take a while.
‘There will be more teams who have this problem. At the start of the season don’t drop points, work hard, make sure you are organised in and out of possession.
‘We are not 100% form but we have to go from game to game to improve and to get higher performance levels in the team and in individual players. We will see how quick we can go with this process.’
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