Every word from Erik ten Hag as Manchester United face Everton (Premier League)

Erik ten Hag spoke to the media ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League fixture against Everton.

Manchester United will be looking to rebuild a run of Premier League form after Erik ten Hag‘s men secured their first win in four thanks to a 1-0 victory over Brentford, with Marcus Rashford securing the only goal of the encounter.

United have already defeated Everton both home and away this season, with the Old Trafford victory coming in the form of a 3-1 victory.

Read More: “Absolutely confirmed” – Man Utd could sign £61 million World Cup winning midfielder

Here, you can read every word Ten Hag said in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.

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What is the latest news surrounding Luke Shaw and Christian Eriksen?
“Yes. Luke Shaw is not available for tomorrow. And we have to see how it progresses in the coming week. The good news is Christian Eriksen is back in training and he will be back tomorrow in the squad.”

How big a piece of news is Eriksen’s return given that you’re coming into a key part of the season?
“I think it was not for nothing. I was so angry about that tackle and he was away – at first we feared we had lost him for the whole season but he worked very well. I think the medical department did really well and in togetherness he is already returning to the squad and so is available for the final stages of the season. We are very pleased with that.”

You thought you wouldn’t get him again?
“From the first it was a really bad tackle and it was also a really bad injury but he is a little bit ahead of the schedule so we are very happy with [that].”

How do you keep the passion shown against Brentford now switched on throughout the rest of the season?
“We have to do it every game and that needs preparation and it has to be the standard when you are playing for Manchester United. So this is the demand, no ifs or buts, you have to do it and that is the responsibility. That a player has to deliver when you are playing for Manchester United. So you have to be accountable.”

You’ve beaten Everton twice already this season. How have they changed and what are they doing differently now under Sean Dyche?
“It’s obviously a manager doing a great job. The team is really fit from Everton. Their physical output is outstanding so we have to match that.”

How do you build your team’s mental strength?
“It’s about demands and so we have to match standards always. It is about a culture that you can only be a player for Manchester United when you match those standards. And you have to do it always. It’s not about once, because players when you are not absolutely top, they can do it once. But for a player who is playing in the top, so competing for trophies, competing for winning the Premier League you have to do it always. So [consistency].”

Is that something that you and your coaching staff can do or do you get to a point where you bring in outside experts maybe?
“Yeah of course, it is our job to bring that mentality in.”

Are there any more available or not available to face Everton?
“No. It was, I think [what I said] So Shaw is not available, Christian Eriksen is back in the squad, therefore the rest, we have a squad that is ready to play.”

Tomorrow is Casemiro’s last domestic game of his ban. While he’s been out, has he been taking part in full training? Is the idea that he can just slot back into the team?
“Yes, of course, he is taking part but that’s especially for a player like Casemiro, that’s not an advantage. So he needs the rhythm. He needs the rhythm from training, from games so he misses that but luckily he had the game with Brazil versus Morocco and we are lucky we are playing three games in one week, in six days and so he doesn’t miss that much.”

Are you concerned that he might be unfairly – not marked – but he’s had two suspensions already for seven games. Are you concerned that referees are going to look for him unfairly and overly referee him and he will pick up another red card?
“I don’t know. I have to trust the refs but I have to say from me, so both are definitely not a red card. And everyone who knows football, you know that when you play on top level you know that’s not a red card because then you can send off in every game in the Premier League many players.”

Just on Shaw – could he be out for a few weeks and what is the injury specifically that he’s got?
“Second part of this question, we don’t call, it is personal. The first – I don’t think in this moment but we have to see how it progresses. I think he can [be] back quite quickly.”

So you’re not too worried about it?
“In this moment no.”

Is it something that could become more problematic, has got the possibilty to be more of a problem?
“Yeah, that, with injuries you have to see over days how it progress and sometimes you underestimate the injury but I think Lukey did quite well. He knows his body. He went in the right moment off before he got more damage. In this moment we are quite positive about him returning quickly.”

What does Christian’s return bring back to your team?
“He is always composed on the ball. You can always find him, so in the progressing of the game and he has key actions. He has key passes, the final pass, so I think that brings a lot to a team. 

We’ve seen results slip a little bit with one win in four in the Premier League. Does the return of Casemiro and Eriksen come at the right time for the final push?
“It’s obvious and clear they are two very valuable players for us and especially so midfield we all know how important the midfield department is. And what we have to do is now several games to find a new balance and that’s not so easy to find that in this stage of the season. And it’s sometimes a little bit trial and error, bringing new players in. Bringing players in a different position so that’s what we did but against Brentford I was very pleased with the performance of the midfield. Because I think we played very well there. All the three but also in co-operation together. They did a magnificent job. I think they can progress.”

Do you know when Garnacho may be back from injury?
“We have something in our heads but I don’t want – he will definitely be back before the end of the season. I think he will be in the final stages but I don’t want to bring so much pressure on the medical and Garnacho to set a date when to be back.”

You said the other night you would want two players in your squad who can score more than 15 goals a season – obviously Marcus has got 28 this season. Is the hope for next season for those players to be Marcus and a new striker?
“We [and] I work hard in the background on that we get more players in scoring. But at the same time we have to develop the team. And to develop our attacking play that more players are coming in the area that they can score goals. And I think we have the capabilities. Jadon Sancho can score a goal, Bruno Fernandes can score a goal, Marcel Sabitzer can score a goal, Antony can score a goal. And the good thing, Anthony Martial is getting fitter, and fitter, and fitter so when you look back he definitely can score goals. So then we already have two players who are capable to score 15 goals or more.”

You spoke on Wednesday about the job Marcus is doing for the team and the goals he scored. You also said that in terms of his contract you’ll give us news when you have it. At what stage does the fact there is no news yet become a concern for you?
“No, it is not a concern for me. But I don’t want to give a comment on the process because I don’t think it will support the process. But I’m quite relaxed.”

But the goals he’s scored obviously underline how important he is to the team and equally how important it is to get him on a new contract?
“Yeah, but that is quite clear. But remember last year when we were sitting here. Everyone was worrying, concerning. I don’t because I think we have the players but also the way we play, we will have players who score goals.”

Despite people maybe thinking you didn’t have a deep squad, you’ve competed for four trophies pretty much all the way up until now. How much work have you got to do in the summer for that squad to take the next step and compete maybe in the Champions League, or for the Champions League and for the Premier League at the top instead of the top four?
“So thinking about that is first of all, always think of improving your way of play. We are now in the final stage. So not even two months to go, so keep working on improving your game. Team, individual. And then making the next step. And then summer comes – I already said – of course we are working in the back on this summer, but in this moment it doesn’t have to focus. It’s about now. It’s about we are in the right spot. We are competing for the top four in the Premier League, we are in the quarter-final of the Europa League, we are in the semi-final of the FA Cup. We already have won a cup, so we have to make it a really successful season. We have a great squad, so I am really positive to get a good final stage of the season and to get even more silverware.”