Manchester United a “work in progress”, says manager Ten Hag ahead of his side’s Premier League clash against Spurs.
Manchester United still need some to work to be the perfect version of themselves, manager Erik ten Hag believes .
Erik ten Hag, the Manchester United manager, has asked for patience. He feels that in order for Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, and Rasmus Højlund to “build” to their full potential, time is needed.
The disappointing 0-0 result against Crystal Palace on Saturday precedes a 1-1 Europa League draw with Twente on Wednesday. United has just five goals in five games, leaving them with a zero goal difference. United are eleventh in the Premier League with seven points. Ten Hag has invested almost £600 million in his squad over the course of five transfer windows. When questioned if supporters had a right to expect the team to advance its development, he said that they did.
“You have to assess the situation,” the manager said. “Still we are working and are in progress. We have made the choice to sign young players, like last year Højlund. This year Zirkzee, Yoro – players who we believe in at this moment and also for the future and we have to build them.”
Before the draw at Palace, United beat Barnsley 7-0 in the Carabao Cup after winning 3-0 at Southampton. “I think we turned a corner [in the past two weeks]. Now we have to work with the squad and that takes time,” Ten Hag said. “Also I am impatient and I want to go straight forward. We had success in the last two seasons and we have to work hard to bring more success.”
The 54-year-old is in his third season in charge and was questioned on how his side could not have tried as much as their opponents. He said: “I think every team has this in a season. When you play 60 games there will be games where you are not happy with the performance.
“I think that is always the psychological side of top football where any team has more hunger than the other. The team who can manage this the best will be the most successful. We are ambitious so we always demand from ourselves that we are hungrier.”