📣 ETH on injuries, player demands, improving culture and Liverpool test | OneFootball

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has addressed the media ahead of the club’s upcoming clash with Liverpool.

Here is what he had to say.

On squad news

“I think we will have players back. Yesterday Luke Shaw was not available, so we expect him back. Jadon Sancho was ill, but we will have to wait and see how that develops. But I think [he could be available] as well.”

On squad mentality

“I think we are in a good direction with our philosophy, strategy and culture, and we have to keep getting progress. It’s all about that.”

“It’s difficult to say in a few words, or a few sentences [how the players became hungrier for success]. It’s more a total package, it’s more like what I say, philosophy, culture, strategy, and to bring that consistently forward.

“I think our mentality, in general, is very good, and I think, also, we have many leaders who set the mentality, who set and control the standards, who correct if necessary.”

On challenging for every trophy

“We like to play, and we have energy from playng every three or four days. So we want to keep that going, but we think about game by game. So Sunday, next game.”

On demanding top performances

“What I saw [against West Ham] was that we are not playing to our standards, that’s what I saw in the first half. Then I have to be tough to my team, because I demand a performance.”

“Every day I demand a performance, and I don’t accept when it’s lower. Then I will criticise them, and I will tell them what I expect. Then I give the team solutions, how to win the game, and the second half performance was much better.”

On facing Liverpool

“It is, of course, a test. But we’re facing Liverpool and we’re really looking forward [to it], I know these players, my squad, my team will be prepared to go and fight, to go with confidence but we know it’s going to be difficult.

“I’m not talking about Liverpool’s [poor season], it’s not my responsibility, I have enough to do here at Carrington with Manchester United, so I have to deal with the performance of Manchester United.

“I’m sure Liverpool has a really good strategy, management and a really good playing philosophy, strategy, no [their “era” isn’t over], I don’t think so.”