Ten Hag Admits Concerns as Manchester United Face Uncertain Start Against Fulham
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has expressed his concerns ahead of the Premier League opener against Fulham on Friday night, admitting that his team is "not ready" for the new campaign. The Red Devils face selection headaches due to injuries and the late arrival of new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
The Dutch duo only joined the squad on Thursday after completing their moves from Bayern Munich for a combined fee of nearly £60 million. With limited time to integrate with their teammates, Ten Hag is left with a tricky decision on whether to include them in the starting lineup for the clash at Old Trafford.
The injury list adds to the manager's worries, with left-back Luke Shaw ruled out with a calf problem, while new £52 million defender Leny Yoro is expected to miss three months after picking up a serious injury earlier in August. To compound matters, young striker Rasmus Hojlund is also sidelined with a hamstring issue.
“We’re not ready, but the league starts,” Ten Hag admitted during his pre-match press conference. “There are more managers who definitely have this problem, but we have to make a start. We can’t hide from it. We can’t run away from it. We have to deal with it.”
Despite the disruptions, United fans will be eager to see how the team fares against Fulham, with Ten Hag potentially giving a debut to Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkee, who joined the club earlier in the summer. Zirkee was an unused substitute during the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City and could make his first competitive appearance on Friday night.
The uncertainty surrounding United’s squad selection leaves Ten Hag with a challenge as he balances the need for immediate results with integrating new players into his tactical system. Fulham will be looking to capitalize on any disarray as they aim to start their campaign with a positive result against one of the league's top sides.
The pressure is on for Ten Hag’s side, who will be keen to avoid a sluggish start in their bid to challenge for the Premier League title. United supporters will be hoping that the squad can come together quickly, even with the evident challenges of a disrupted preseason.
As the clock ticks down to the season opener, all eyes will be on Old Trafford to see if Manchester United can overcome their early obstacles and set a positive tone for the months ahead.
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