Erik ten Hag's full press conference ahead of Man Utd v Bournemouth

ManchesterWorld

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag speaks to the press ahead of Bournemouth. Marcus Rashford's form and the revivals of Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire were on the agenda.

Transcript

00:00 Welcome everyone to our press conference for our Premier League game against Bournemouth tomorrow.

00:05 First section is in Bargo until 1.30pm. Let's start with Mark.

00:11 Eric, hi, how are you? First of all, congratulations on Manager of the Month and to Harry as well for Player of the Month.

00:21 And the Goal of the Month.

00:24 And Goal of the Month as well. I've got a hat trick.

00:27 It's quite interesting because when you look at Harry Maguire and the conversations around him at the start of the season,

00:33 Scott McTominay as well, they've kind of turned their United careers around, haven't they? Is that fair?

00:40 I think we have a squad and that squad is internal competition.

00:45 And if you want to have a successful season, you need more than 11 players.

00:50 And, yeah, finally, in every season it will turn, in every season, what is the best team.

00:59 And from how they were here, they are great players and they play themselves in the team.

01:06 And so that is what you expect from every player. This has to be the dedication from every player to aim for this.

01:15 I know you answered it a bit on Wednesday night about the crisis at Manchester United, which you played down.

01:23 You're only three points behind Manchester City. So does the narrative need to change?

01:28 So we know where we are going. And, yeah, we had our setbacks, especially in the start of the season.

01:38 A lot of things went against us with injuries, with decisions.

01:45 And sometimes you find yourself as a team in such a place and you have to deal with it.

01:49 And then you see the character of the team. But we fought back and I think we are now in a better place.

01:55 We are in a better form. You see the performances are increasing.

02:01 We are improving as a team and as individuals. And you see you get a stronger belief.

02:07 We also know we have to be very sharp in every game because we also know that this league is very competitive.

02:14 And you see it in the results recently, this week as well.

02:19 Everyone kills everyone. So you need to be ready for every game.

02:25 Erik, Marcus Rashford was obviously taken out of the side on Wednesday night.

02:28 Have you seen a reaction from him to that decision?

02:33 So Rashford is an incredible good player. You can't do it with 11 players.

02:40 And also he can't play every game.

02:43 He's not in this moment in the shape, in the form where he was last year.

02:49 But I'm sure he will get there.

02:53 The game against Chelsea, in terms of chances created and so on, arguably one of the best of the season.

02:58 How difficult will it be for Marcus to get back into the side, given the way you play?

03:02 What I said about Scott McTominay and Harry McGuire, it's up to them.

03:09 So finally the team will line themselves up and the best players who form the best team,

03:17 who construct the best team, they will play.

03:20 Fraser, you've never lost to Bournemouth in the Premier League in recent times.

03:26 How important is it that you continue the confidence that you found at home into this game this time around?

03:32 I think they have also very good form, Bournemouth.

03:36 Of course we have seen them and it's a very good side.

03:42 It's a very good constructed team, capable players.

03:47 Again, you have to play your best.

03:49 And as I said in the previous question, everyone is killing everyone.

03:53 So you have to be 100% ready as a team for that game.

03:58 So that's our job to do, and to get there.

04:02 Erik, how difficult is it this weekend with your selection?

04:07 Because I know the next game is always the most important, but you have a very, very important game on Tuesday as well.

04:13 So how difficult is the selection dilemma this weekend?

04:17 As a manager, my coaches, with the rest of the staff, of course you have always considerations.

04:25 And we take everything into account.

04:27 But as you say, the next game is always the most important.

04:31 And especially in the Premier League, where everyone is killing everyone, you need a very strong team.

04:38 How delighted have you been with Scott and Harry?

04:41 Because as has already been mentioned, we wondered what was happening with them at the start of the season.

04:46 Scott already now is scoring lots of goals.

04:48 How big a surprise is that for you?

04:50 Actually, from the first moment I saw, he has a very good smell to making the box.

04:57 And he is a very good finisher.

05:00 So that's not a surprise.

05:04 When the team, when we bring him in the way we want to play him in the position,

05:12 when we get the balls there, yeah, he will finish.

05:16 Last question in this section.

05:18 Can I ask you about Luke?

05:21 What he brings to the team technically, tactically and his presence in the dressing room.

05:28 To start with, at last, I think a lot.

05:32 I think he is a player where others can build on.

05:36 He gives belief and confidence to other players.

05:40 So the teammates around him, they feel comfortable.

05:45 He will deal with difficult situations and he will set up and take initiative to create.

05:55 So, yeah, it strengthens absolutely the team.

05:59 So, first in his presence, his personality, but then also he has the skill set with his physicality.

06:08 So strong, also technical, very good.

06:13 So, yeah, he is a high profile player and so we are happy he is back in.

06:18 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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