Erik ten Hag insists Manchester United are in a stronger position now than they were a year ago.
As the deluded Dutchman refused to even contemplate the prospect of seeing United qualify for the Europa Conference League for the first time or even fail to reach Europe completely, he reckons the club's new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will recognise that the team has made progress this season.
In another strange defence of his two-year reign, Ten Hag claimed once again that injuries have wrecked United’s dreams this season - but feels that the emergence of youngsters like Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo mean that the future at Old Trafford is bright.
Last season, United ended their six-year wait for a trophy by winning the Carabao Cup in Ten hag’s debut season. They also finished third in the Premier League to return to the Champions League and reached the FA Cup Final.
But Ten Hag said: “When you look at the results, you would say ‘no’, but we know the reasons behind it so I would now say ‘yes’ because we have more players, we have more high quality players in the squad and from that perspective we are in a better position.
“I think that we developed some young players with high potential who can really add to the quality levels of our squad.
“With established, experienced players, they can make a very good mix and be a very strong squad that can compete at the highest level. I think that is also what we showed this season against top teams that often we are very competitive.”
United have six days to rescue something from the current campaign. If they beat rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup Final on Saturday they will qualify for the Europa League.
But they will enter European football’s third-ranked competition if they leapfrog Newcastle into seventh place in the Premier League on the final day of the season and then lose at Wembley.
Ten Hag insists he is 100 percent focused on beating Pep Guardiola ’s side after losing to the Blues last year. He said: “I never think in a negative scenario. We have the opportunity left in our own hands, so go for it.
“I think that for every player, Manchester United is a very attractive club. Of course you want to play at the highest levels, but if you want to go into a project in a club like Manchester United, I’m sure it is still a very attractive club for every player.”
Ten Hag could pay the price for United’s poor results when Ratcliffe and his INEOS group review a campaign which has seen them lose 14 out of 37 games. If his team fail to beat Brighton by three clear goals at the Amex Stadium they will finish with a negative goal difference for the first time since 1990.
That was the season when Sir Alex Ferguson rescued his job by lifting the FA Cup. United also finished bottom of a Champions League group that included Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen.
Wibbcemnsu
0
I don't tink he is mentally okay
lbt
0
ETH needs to show up to a doctor very soon!
Roocnotuy
0
how does he speak was he with rashford for adrink
Glorykay1
0
are you sure Manchester united coach is ok ?
nozcioptz
0
What a clown 🤡. He is delusional. How are they better than last season? He has to go
Chocboi78
0
Is the man insane or something?
Caaiklmnor
0
this man always lack words to say.If the team is bad it's ,if it was good you could be in the top 4.Lets call a spade a spade and a spoon a spoon😂😂😂 can't wait watching your last game next week
kapedien1824
0
Are you kidding me
kaudikpuy
0
Far better of last lessons
kaudikpuy
1
Yes very good position
Teademnsy
0
this one has beginning to annoy me, not firing you does not mean you did well. please don't provoke me to sack you
Cokbckmu
0
exact opposite your speech .!
woklnos
0
Huh 🤔 u must be kidding so problem is lying from you not the player.
OverloadElidemaskino
0
what about Chelsea, No: goalie Sanchez, Fofana, James, chiwell, chaloba, Lavia, Nkunku...these are first team players and many more injured players. ETH was just bad this season, Man United should just admit it and hope for a better new season, if ETH is kept
How can you compare the depth Squad of Chelsea and Manchester united. Chelsea has more than 100 players for the coach to pick from than does Manchester united. Let's see the statistics of Chelsea and Manchester united and see who played more shit than others.
Renilmop
0
Last season, the same coach completely changed his style to ensure the team was successful, or what counts as successful for Man United these days. What that did was paper over the cracks, making things look better than they were. This is the season I think United needed to show Sir Jim the extent of the work needed. If Sir Jim sticks with Ten Hag and gets good players compatible with how he wants to play, United will start to make progress. The coach may not end up being the right person for the job but the time to judge him is not now
okay you might be right but EPL is not waiting for anyone
Ceyeklmost
0
I 100%agree with ETH.they are playing entertain football.exccept goalscoring and killing the game and winning.
SMHellas
0
okay after all the coach need to stop or else face sack thats what is going on now man u need experience coach
Last season, the same coach completely changed his style to ensure the team was successful, or what counts as successful for Man United these days. What that did was paper over the cracks, making things look better than they were. This is the season I think United needed to show Sir Jim the extent of the work needed. If Sir Jim sticks with Ten Hag and gets good players compatible with how he wants to play, United will start to make progress. The coach may not end up being the right person for the job but the time to judge him is not now
pacorules
1
He's saying truth and facts while giving insight to the INEOS group of what they should do to develop the Squad and support Eric Ten Hag next season after oversee how the team straggled to challenge the like of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston villa for the top 4. Me personally, I don't think Eric Ten Hag completely failed. imagine playing more than 15 games without your first 11 more especially without you preferred back 4 and midfield 🤔🤔🤔🤔 not even Pep Guardiola can manage that kind of situation even if we consider him to be the Tactician in the World. Let's give This Man one Last Chance with a Full fit and Strong Squad and judge him 🤝🏾
what about Chelsea, No: goalie Sanchez, Fofana, James, chiwell, chaloba, Lavia, Nkunku...these are first team players and many more injured players. ETH was just bad this season, Man United should just admit it and hope for a better new season, if ETH is kept
pezcekmnrs
0
stupid manager this is not the same man u we knew under ole and Mourinho ten hag has killed this team with his stupid signs and always want to show off his players that his a boss very useless coach indeed
vuoaioruy
0
sometimes, I think this Ten Hag is drunk due to some of his comments
Renilmop
0
No the recruitment is the problem. Look at our squad and the players are a mixture who are not suited to playing the same system. Fast up front but selfish and don't pass, slow and lacking dynamism in midfield and slow centre backs who cannot play the high line needed by the front players to make their press effective. They press and if that gets beaten, the slow midfielders have too much space to cover because the centre backs sit too deep because if a quick forward gets in behind they are screwed. With the front players you either need fit, fast and dynamic players in midfield or you need fast centre backs who can compress the field and limit space in midfield for opponents to play through. Nothing matches which is on the owners who keep changing managers to someone with a completely different style, and letting clueless people like Woodward, Judge and Murtough run recruitment. Those guys not only got the wrong players but paid them so well they won't leave
okay after all the coach need to stop or else face sack thats what is going on now man u need experience coach
SMHellas
0
is not overachieve the problem of man united is the tactics u are playing bcs the coach has to know the problem of the team and work on it if it is injuries
No the recruitment is the problem. Look at our squad and the players are a mixture who are not suited to playing the same system. Fast up front but selfish and don't pass, slow and lacking dynamism in midfield and slow centre backs who cannot play the high line needed by the front players to make their press effective. They press and if that gets beaten, the slow midfielders have too much space to cover because the centre backs sit too deep because if a quick forward gets in behind they are screwed. With the front players you either need fit, fast and dynamic players in midfield or you need fast centre backs who can compress the field and limit space in midfield for opponents to play through. Nothing matches which is on the owners who keep changing managers to someone with a completely different style, and letting clueless people like Woodward, Judge and Murtough run recruitment. Those guys not only got the wrong players but paid them so well they won't leave
Renilmop
0
So you think those teams would have coped with one senior centre back who is 36 and no senior specialist left back for months? How you cope with an injury toll depends as much on who is injured as on the number of injuries you have
now that things are going worst he started playing casimero as cb instead trying this in the break and if he can
Renilmop
0
So we're Madrid's centre backs the last ones in their selection or were they higher up? A goalkeeper to me just needs to be a good shotstopper when he deputizes. Liverpool I am full of admiration for what they did, they overachieved given the injuries they had
is not overachieve the problem of man united is the tactics u are playing bcs the coach has to know the problem of the team and work on it if it is injuries
SMHellas
0
am very sorry for fans who are defending this man with injury issues bcs the number of injuries Madrid, barca, Liverpool, chelsea, Tottenham and so many more is equal to man united but if they will not lose they will manage to draw even man United in UCL will tell u there is no good position in this team bcs the injuries u are talking about can be worst next season
So we're Madrid's centre backs the last ones in their selection or were they higher up? A goalkeeper to me just needs to be a good shotstopper when he deputizes. Liverpool I am full of admiration for what they did, they overachieved given the injuries they had
SMHellas
0
Keep faith on ETH, Man U will be in the similar position or worse next season
The identity of the manager is a different question to the state of the squad. If Casemiro and Eriksen were fit all season, would Mainoo have got much chance? That he got the chance and flourished is the positive here
rupdemopru
0
this is stupidly arrogant and shameless
Brokelona fan mind your business, brokelona is going down
Renilmop
0
So you think those teams would have coped with one senior centre back who is 36 and no senior specialist left back for months? How you cope with an injury toll depends as much on who is injured as on the number of injuries you have
listen madrid got two senior cbs and first choice goalkeeper and Liverpool too almost half of the season of some first team players Barcelona too in midfield
denadintuz
0
There is nothing strange about what he says at all, and I agree with him. I would much rather have had the season we have had but see the next generation of players emerge rather than seeing us in the top four with the same old players who will never make us better than a side making up the numbers. These young players give us a glimpse of what the future holds and it's exciting because it means we are a step closer to getting rid of guys like Maguire, Lindelof and McTominay who are ok but will never be good enough to be in a league winning team
Keep faith on ETH, Man U will be in the similar position or worse next season
denadintuz
0
ETH thinking that the board are stupid to listen to his insane statement.
SMHellas
0
am very sorry for fans who are defending this man with injury issues bcs the number of injuries Madrid, barca, Liverpool, chelsea, Tottenham and so many more is equal to man united but if they will not lose they will manage to draw even man United in UCL will tell u there is no good position in this team bcs the injuries u are talking about can be worst next season
So you think those teams would have coped with one senior centre back who is 36 and no senior specialist left back for months? How you cope with an injury toll depends as much on who is injured as on the number of injuries you have
SMHellas
2
There is nothing strange about what he says at all, and I agree with him. I would much rather have had the season we have had but see the next generation of players emerge rather than seeing us in the top four with the same old players who will never make us better than a side making up the numbers. These young players give us a glimpse of what the future holds and it's exciting because it means we are a step closer to getting rid of guys like Maguire, Lindelof and McTominay who are ok but will never be good enough to be in a league winning team
Mula0777
0
this is stupidly arrogant and shameless
Shameless that’s it. He’s ain’t got no shame at all he is sooo average🤮💔
Renilmop
0
am very sorry for fans who are defending this man with injury issues bcs the number of injuries Madrid, barca, Liverpool, chelsea, Tottenham and so many more is equal to man united but if they will not lose they will manage to draw even man United in UCL will tell u there is no good position in this team bcs the injuries u are talking about can be worst next season
Renilmop
1
You people don't understand why he said that, ask yourself last season this time did the club know where is heading to, who will be in charge of the club due to the ownership decision not make that distracted the plan of the manager and the transfers. so he's saying the club is in better position did you ask he what is his reason for saying that and just start insulting him because you people has insulted your father's.
only people like you can defend bad in your family to collapse
GANGWRLD
1
You people don't understand why he said that, ask yourself last season this time did the club know where is heading to, who will be in charge of the club due to the ownership decision not make that distracted the plan of the manager and the transfers. so he's saying the club is in better position did you ask he what is his reason for saying that and just start insulting him because you people has insulted your father's.
🤧 NOBODY NEEDS YOUR EXPLANATION
Lebaemouz
1
this is stupidly arrogant and shameless
Soccpstuz
0
yes very good night News 💞 Mr Erik ten hag good 👍 man nice Manchester united clubs is Minajar
Kings640
0
Story
Mekabdlmos
0
this guy continue to irritate us as a fans , where is the better position he is talking about
Arsenal1400
3
Come out of that press conference and say it again
bamadiloty
0
Really this guy needs a doctor
jhkr
0
which better position
Poakmnpsuy
2
You people don't understand why he said that, ask yourself last season this time did the club know where is heading to, who will be in charge of the club due to the ownership decision not make that distracted the plan of the manager and the transfers. so he's saying the club is in better position did you ask he what is his reason for saying that and just start insulting him because you people has insulted your father's.
Baban forca barca
0
He is delusional
Wapiklosz
0
stupid man
Deycelmnsu
0
Deluded indeed and „injured players“ a lousy excuse, because MU‘s bench is better, at least more expensive than the starting 11 of clubs he list to. Go home, man, the sooner the better !
Madaikmns
2
give him a chance and buy him proper players
Daphoenix23
3
What’s wrong with this egg head…? What progress eh? Sometime just swallow shame and pride and say “okay look we fvcked up but it’s part of life and sports and we will try to be beta next season, we had injuries and some games just didn’t go to plan” We’ll understand and move on but arguing like a nagging husband isn’t gonna do the trick at all, especially not with this British pundits
boydklpt
0
Manchester United clear all the death wood in your team this up coming season you must surely see result. do what Chelsea did. the beginning may harden but results must surely come.