Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, has expressed his commitment to avoid replaying past errors related to playing unfit athletes. These lessons come from the previous season which saw him forced to pick underprepared players. With the upcoming match against Crystal Palace on Saturday, ten Hag does not plan to put Mason Mount and Rasmus Højlund into the fray immediately, as both are still recovering from hamstring injuries.
Mount was a key player in the Communal Shield and the first couple of Premier League clashes, but had to step down midway through the game against Brighton due to a hamstring strain. His debut season post-transfer from Chelsea was marred by injuries, causing him to sit out 30 games. Likewise, Højlund hasn’t made his initial appearance due to a similar affliction.
Ten Hag shared, “In a careful yet intensive game like football, pushing boundaries is imperative. However, managing the players’ workload gets simpler with a fully available squad. Last season’s circumstances demanded us to pressurise the players, which is not an ideal situation.”
He expressed relief about the players’ return to on-field sessions and gym training. Although their fitness to start the upcoming game is unconfirmed, their return to the squad presents a good sign. With a good number of games lined up, ten Hag aims for their gradual integration into the team.
Referring to United’s last performance at Selhurst Park in May, where they were wiped out 4-0, ten Hag admitted it was a bad night for his team. He attributed the loss to not having a fit squad and needing to play some severely underprepared players. However, he was optimistic about the upcoming game, stating things would be different this time since they now have a fit squad with 18 ready players.
When questioned about the possibility of a repetition of a 4-0 defeat, ten Hag firmly responded, “No, certainly not. The 4-0 defeat was deserved then, but things will change this Saturday.”