Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has said his squad is not bothered about heir packed match schedule but admitted that they needed to focus.In an interview with the club’s media, Ten Hag gave updated about Anthony Martialand Jadon Sancho.He said, “We are preparing for the next game and we have to get ready for the next game. We need to get focused and get the energy so we will be [doing that]. We have training here [in Spain], have a recovery session, they do it well, and then fly back and be ready for Sunday.“Yeah, we will see tomorrow. They work at Carrington and then we will see how they recover and then we will pick a team.”
On Bruno Fernandes missing next game having played all games for United this season, he said: “Yeah, until now, Bruno is so important for us. In every match, he plays really good. I think also yesterday, he was playing from the right, he made an impact there as well. You see, for instance, with the goal and also some other actions. As a no.10, he’s playing really good games and we have to replace him, that’s the squad. Therefore, you need a squad, it’s not about 11 players, you need a squad to win in a season and now we have to replace him and we will do.”
Ten Hag also spoke about the two extra games early next year needed to qualify for the next stage in the Europa League.
He said, “We definitely have two extra games to cover in this hard season. We have a lot of games, that’s clear, but also it’s an opportunity for this squad to develop and to get into the process. Players like to play matches, rather than training, so, in that matter, it is also an advantage.”
Ten Hag to give young players Europa League chance
The United manager agreed that the games will give opportunities for players like Alejandro Garnacho to take their chance as well…“And if they deserve it, they have to deserve it in training and we give them opportunities, the deserved opportunities, to everyone – also to the young players. We have some young players so they have to fight, we have to see them every day and, when they do, they come in. Especially as an attacking player in the front line as we have some problems [there] with numbers, some injuries and some illness, so I’m really happy with the performance and development of Garnacho. I hope he can keep this process going, and then we have the extra option and that is what we need,” he said.
