Erik tenn Hag Concerns Over Team Readiness

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United manager has expressed concerns about his team being “not ready” for their Premier League opener against Fulham on Friday. The match, scheduled for 20:00 BST, poses a challenge as new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, who joined from Bayern Munich, only arrived on Thursday. Their limited time to train with the team complicates Ten Hag’s selection decisions for the game at Old Trafford.

Defender Luke Shaw is sidelined with a calf injury while new £52m signing Leny Yoro is out for three months due to an early August injury. Forward Rasmus Hojlund is also dealing with a hamstring issue. Despite committing close to £60m on De Ligt and Mazraoui, Ten Hag faces a selection dilemma. He acknowledged that while other managers might face similar issues, they must confront them head-on.

The manager also has to address a left-back shortage. With Shaw injured and Tyrell Malacia out for another two months due to knee surgery, Ten Hag may consider using Mazraoui in this position. Diogo Dalot and Lisandro Martinez filled in during the recent Community Shield loss to Manchester City and Joshua Zirkee, another summer signing, could make his debut against Fulham after being an unused substitute in the Community Shield.

Erik ten Hag remains optimistic about fielding a strong lineup despite these issues. He emphasized the importance of focusing on available players and expressed confidence in the squad’s capabilities. He also mentioned that Shaw, who has not played since February due to injury but returned for England at Euro 2024 will return soon. Ten Hag stressed the importance of Shaw to the team and his anticipation for his swift return.