-
Rob Dawson, Reporter
LOS ANGELES — Manchester UnitedThe team’s season begins here. The players and staff have traveled to Los Angeles for a summer tour, and coach Erik ten Hag has a number of issues to deal with while on the road.
The 54-year-old will take charge for the 2024-25 campaign, after an anxious wait after the FA Cup final (which they won against rivals Manchester City) to see if he can keep his job. Some supporters believe Ten Hag is in a difficult position and could be sacked by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos advisory team if the start of the season does not go well.
Below, ESPN looks at the most pressing issues facing the United manager as the summer tour begins.
Ten Hag must reassert his power
Ten Hag’s main focus when taking over at United in 2022 will be to stamp his authority on the squad and instill a discipline that he believes has been lost over time. He has won major head-to-head battles with Cristiano Ronaldo And Marcus RashfordBut over the past six months, the Dutchman has seen his iron grip loosen. The players know he was almost sacked after the FA Cup final.
Then, just weeks after confirming he would be staying, Jadon Sancho allowed back in. Sancho was exiled after his public row with Ten Hag in September, but is now being reintegrated despite no suggestion from either side that he has apologised. Ten Hag craves control and will want to show everyone that he is still in charge.
Decide which players can leave the club
Front Joshua Zirkzee and defender Leny Yoro has come to replace Anthony Vo And Raphael VaraneAlthough any further additions would have to be funded by the departing personnel, Ten Hag would ideally like to add a centre-back, a central midfielder and a right-back, but he would have to make room in his squad first.
Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, AntonySancho, Scott McTominay And Christian Eriksen, Hannibal Mejbri And Casemiro All of them are back in first-team training, and while not all of them will leave, at least some will. Ten Hag will have to make the final decision on which players can leave, and then let the club’s owners do the deals.
United have not sold players well in the past — although their signings so far this summer have been hinting at a promising change on policy and procedure — and that will have to change this summer if they want to complete a major overhaul of the roster.
Refresh Rashford
United finished third in 2022-23, thanks in part to Rashford’s 17 goals Premier League and 30 goals in all competitions. Last season, he contributed 8 goals in 43 appearances. Rasmus Hojlund still young and Zirkzee new to the league, meaning Rashford will have to shoulder the responsibility in front of goal.
Rashford looked a shadow of his former self last season but showed his readiness to return to his best by returning early in pre-season training. Missing the Rangers friendly through injury is a concern as Ten Hag needs him to stay fit first. United were the lowest-scoring team in the Premier League’s top 10 last season with 57 goals – 39 fewer than Manchester city — and that needs to be fixed quickly.
1:06
Why Shaka Hislop is confused as Manchester United extend Erik Ten Hag’s contract
Shaka Hislop explains why he disagrees with Manchester United’s decision to extend Erik Ten Hag’s contract.
Looking for a right winger
Ten Hag has a number of players who can operate on the right, but none who can take over the position. Rashford, Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho All want to play on the left wing, while Antony, who prefers to play on the right so he can cut in with his left foot, has struggled to contribute since his £85m move from Ajax two years ago.
Facundo Pellistri is a natural right winger, but despite occasional first-team opportunities last season, he was allowed to spend the second half of the season on loan at Granada. Many fans would like to see Amad Diallo has been a regular in the team, especially after he scored in the 2-0 win over Rangers on Saturday.
The right wing-back position has been a problem since before Ten Hag arrived, but it is one he must address.
Don’t make the same mistakes
Ten Hag will tell you that the biggest problem last season was the number of key players injured, and he’s right. Luke Shaw And Lisandro Martinez hardly play and Mason MountainHojlund and Rashford are both out for long periods.
Ten Hag insists it was bad luck, and while there is some truth to that, sources told ESPN that some players believe the problem started in the preseason because they felt overworked. It’s important for team members to build up their fitness during their training camp at UCLA, but it’s also important that they don’t feel burned out before the campaign begins.
