Erik ten Hag makes worrying admission ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League opener

Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag held his first pre-match press conference (Picture: Getty)

Erik ten Hag said Manchester United were ‘not ready’ for the resumption of the Premier League, with several players needing more time following a hectic summer.

The vast majority of United’s squad featured at Euro 2024 or Copa America over the summer and were therefore unable to enjoy a significant break following yet another gruelling Premier League campaign.

Ten Hag, speaking at his first pre-match press conference of the new season, admitted his team were ‘not ready’ but said this would be a problem faced by several of his colleagues in the early part of the season.

Manchester United kick-start the 2024-25 Premier League campaign on Friday night when Fulham visit Old Trafford.

Asked whether his players needed more time, Ten Hag said: ‘It’s true, it’s not the pre-season where in five to six weeks you work on a team, it’s very complicated.

‘The USA tour squad and then we added the players at Euros and Copa America and now new signings and we have to make a team from it.

‘That team is not ready but the league starts and more managers have this problem.

‘Still, we have some room, have some principles and we have to make a start. We can’t hide, we have to deal with it.’

More to follow…