OneFootball
Lewis Ambrose·23 May 2022
OneFootball
Lewis Ambrose·23 May 2022
Erik ten Hag gave his first Manchester United interview earlier on Monday and has now faced the media for the first time in a press conference.
âToday Iâm happy to meet you all and Iâm really excited to be here,â he said.
âIt was a really warm welcome here at the club. Iâm looking forward to working with you all. This is my home and I want to achieve success.
âThe confidence is that I have a good feeling with the people around, I have a good feeling from the meetings. We have a plan and now itâs about getting the plan done.
âI think this club has a great history, and now letâs make a future.â
Speaking about what comes first, the Dutchman said he still has to analyse his squad but insists there is plenty of quality available to him.
âIâm still in the process of analysing â Iâm looking forward to working with these players. The season before, this squad was second in the Premier League so thereâs huge potential
âWe have a strategy and a concept. We will work on that. As manager I have to bring something to the club, a dynamic. If you want to be top you have to demand. That is what we will do. I have good feeling from people around now itâs about getting the plan done.â
Ten Hag insisted he âdoesnât see it as a riskâ to join United but that he is not going to be drawn on when the club can target the Premier League title.
âI donât think about that at this moment. Iâm thinking that this is a project and it takes time. We want to win every game. We go from game to game and then weâll see.
âIâve already met big coaches and big teams in the Premier League and I know how to deal with that. But itâs clear, the Premier League is the biggest league in the world I think and Iâm looking forward to battling with them.
âI admire them both, Manchester City and Liverpool. They both play fantastic football. But you will always see an era come to an end.
âI spoke with more people who have experience at this club. I spoke with Louis van Gaal. I was at the premiere of his movie. Finally I made my own line.â
Looking ahead, Ten Hag is eager to push United on after his players have enjoyed a summer break.
âAlthough there is a fantastic history, is the high potential for the future â I donât speak with the players now, they need a break, they need a break to reflect, but Iâm looking forward and I canât wait to start.â
And will Cristiano Ronaldo play a role and what can he bring?
âOf course.
âCristiano can bring goals. But I talk first with Cristiano before I talk with you.â
âNext season is a different season. He did a great job, he is a great player, achieved a lot with a contribution to Manchester United. Iâm looking forward to working with him.â
And what about captain Harry Maguire?
âNext season is a different season. He did a great job, he is a great player, achieved a lot with a contribution to Manchester United. Iâm looking forward to working with him.â