Erik ten Hag says Manchester United ahead Marcus Rashford is “in superb form” and “very formidable and motivated to have an excellent season,” forward of the Neighborhood Protect in opposition to Manchester Metropolis at Wembley on Saturday.
The United attacker had a season to neglect final time period, scoring seven Premier League objectives and lacking out on a spot in England’s Euros squad. There have been additionally off-field points, with Rashford dropped after internet hosting a birthday celebration hours after United misplaced a Manchester derby after which disciplined for lacking an FA Cup recreation after a visit to Belfast.
Nonetheless, Ten Hag seems to be impressed by Rashford’s form and software throughout pre-season as far as the 26-year-old bids to recapture the shape which delivered him 30 objectives in 2022/23.
“We have seen on the tour he is very energetic, in superb form already and we count on rather a lot, as we count on from the entire staff this season once more,” stated Ten Hag, who laughed off the suggestion there was any difficulty between him and the participant.
“There are such a lot of strategies round Manchester United, this staff. We all know the reality. He is working very laborious [and he is] very formidable and motivated to have an excellent season.”
Ten Hag shall be aiming to make it back-to-back wins over Manchester Metropolis at Wembley when he leads United into the Neighborhood Protect three months on from his facet’s FA Cup win over their neighbours on the nationwide stadium.
The Dutchman feels his facet don’t have anything to show this weekend – however have the power to beat any opponent. It’s their outcomes in opposition to weaker sides which he feels may outline their Premier League efficiency on this coming marketing campaign.
“We are going to problem for the Carabao Cup and FA Cup as nicely,” Ten Hag stated when requested about United’s prospects of a Premier League tilt. “It exhibits we’re aggressive and may beat any opponent. That is what we proved within the final two seasons.
“We beat Liverpool, we beat Manchester Metropolis. Our problem is to deliver consistency in opposition to lower-class groups – [although] I do not suppose there are lower-class groups within the league – to win the factors. Different groups are forward of us in that prospect and there we’ve to maintain up.
“We all know already we will beat Metropolis. It isn’t depending on the outcome on Saturday, it is not going to change that perception.
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Ten Hag discusses the membership’s switch technique as they give the impression of being to bolster the squad in the summertime window
“The FA Cup is a better event. However nonetheless we wish to win however we confirmed we will beat Metropolis.
“We do not wish to take a threat with gamers and lose gamers for a protracted interval. That is what we’ve to take from final season while you’re in a sample of lacking any gamers with accidents. Gamers must be obtainable.”
Defensive considerations for Man Utd forward of Neighborhood Protect
It could not fairly be a full-blown defensive disaster however Ten Hag and Manchester United have health points of their backline which can trigger the supervisor a dilemma forward of Saturday’s Neighborhood Protect in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
Talking in his pre-match press convention, Ten Hag stated there was a “query mark” over the health of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw.
Which means Ten Hag may very well be with out a complete again 4 for the season curtain-raiser and would add to a defensive damage listing which additionally consists of Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia.
Ten Hag, then, could have to offer substantial minutes to the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot who’re but to characteristic for United in pre-season on account of their involvement in worldwide competitions this summer time.
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Ten Hag offered Alejandro Garnacho and Lisandro Martinez with an award following their Copa America win with Argentina
“We take into consideration Lucha to be concerned within the recreation,” Ten Hag stated in regards to the centre-back particularly.
“Maguire was [left out of the pre-season defeat to Liverpool as] a precaution however he’s nonetheless a query mark for Saturday. We now have coaching, we’ve to see whether or not he is match sufficient or to not be obtainable.
“Victor, he performed, but in addition he is a query mark and Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw are query marks, we’ve to evaluate them [on Friday].”
On gamers akin to Martinez and Dalot, who missed the US tour, Ten Hag stated: “We put them on low season programmes however all of them have totally different begins within the pre-season within the weeks we had been in USA so particular person to particular person we’ll assess them.”
Jonny Evans – who was unwell in the course of the loss to Liverpool – and Harry Amass will even be in competition to start out at Wembley.
When does the summer time switch window open and shut?
The 2024 summer time switch window formally closes on August 30 at 11pm UK time within the Premier League and 11.30pm in Scotland.
The Premier League has introduced ahead Deadline Day to hyperlink up with the opposite main leagues in Europe. The deadlines had been set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.