Carrick: PSG clash was a good test, we should have scored more

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag spoke to the club's official media after the 1-1 pre-season draw with Paris Saint-Germain.

Let's get straight to it. You probably have a flight to catch later, right? Pre-season is very tight. But let's talk about today's game first. How would you assess today's performance?

I really enjoyed it. It was a good workout. I think the opposition played differently, which required us to adjust accordingly. We should have scored more goals. At times our pressing was very good—we won the ball back high up the pitch and looked very threatening in transitions, which is basically what we've been working on for the past few months. It was pleasing, and against their man-to-man marking, our passing and control were very different from what we've faced before. The players adapted well, so there were plenty of positives. I enjoyed it.

How much specific preparation did you do for Paris Saint-Germain before today's game?

Some, but not as much as usual. We spend most of our time perfecting the tactical system we want to implement. So there was less preparation on the opponent than the players are normally used to, but I think most of what we wanted to get out of the game came through. I also think it's good to let the players solve problems on the pitch themselves and find solutions. I don't always want to just give them the answers when it's not necessary, because I think it prepares them for the new season. There's a lot happening that people might not necessarily see, but we're very pleased with it—there were some really good signs on the pitch.

It was also good to see the players who had just returned from their World Cup break getting more game time. The entire squad will be back together in Dublin, right?

Yes, I'm looking forward to it. Each stage of pre-season is a little different, but it will be great to get everyone together in Dublin over the next few days. We have two more games this week, and I'm also looking forward to seeing the team develop. The lads who came on as substitutes in the second half today showed great ability. It's great to see the top players back from the World Cup, and we'll have more players joining us next week, so yes, we're in good shape now.

I know you and your coaching staff colleagues are coping well, but people often underestimate the adjustments you have to make when key players are absent.

Yes, it's definitely a challenge. This week, we essentially divided the players into three groups: those who played a lot of games, those who didn't play as much, and those who just returned. There's still a lot to adapt and adjust to, but it's a challenge we're happy to take on. This is a great group to work with, so it's really good to get everyone back together this week.

Finally, this was our last game in Scandinavia, and many fans who came today also enjoyed the game. How would you assess this part of pre-season, and to what extent can that energy help us round off pre-season elsewhere?

I think our pre-season has gone well so far. Through the games we've played, we've been gelling and making solid progress, while also enjoying the Scandinavian scenery. It's great to experience all of this in a more relaxed way than usual. Normally it's just from the hotel to the stadium, but this time we went out for a few walks, saw some sights, and met the fans who support us. At this time of year, it's always very important to feel the energy and passion of the fans. That's what we're all about—giving them something to cheer for. It's a shame we couldn't get the win today, but we had plenty of positives on the pitch, and I think they enjoyed the game too.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com