Erik ten Hag has taken to obfuscation as he continues to come under fire during press conferences.
Speaking at the pre-match presser ahead of today’s Carabo Cup clash against Barnsley, the manager offered good news on the injury front and then discussed what Antony has to do to get back in the team.
The subject then moved to a discussion about the team’s model. It was an interesting point because the boss insisted all last season that he wanted United to be the world’s best transition team, but it was a strategy that backfired badly as the Red Devils recorded their worst ever Premier League finish.
“If we have the players available we can construct a team that can play very dynamic, very proactive, with a lot of speed,” he said, suggesting that last season’s transitional system was forced upon him by the injury crisis. This is clearly not the case, as he went on record during pre-season last term stating that was his intention.
“We can play very good in attacking transitions, but we also want to dictate in possession. And from there find our moments to speed up.”
The boss has made several statements recently about how United are second only to Man City because they have won the second most trophies in the past two years. A reporter brought this up, noting previous manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s comments that trophies are not a good barometer of success. He also mentioned the fact that Solskjaer said they “can almost be an ego thing for some managers”. Ten Hag was then asked “Do you agree with that? That the league is most important?”
“I think all the leagues are important,” he replied. “In top football, at the end of the day it’s about winning trophies and to hit the targets.
“You set some targets in the season but also longer term where you want to grow into, therefore you have a strategy and then follow the strategy and develop and progress the team.
“Something tells when you win one of the five leagues, then you hit some targets and you did your job well.”
It was a bizarrely evasive response, as Ten Hag seemed (or dare we say, perhaps pretended?) to not understand that a cup is not a league, and that the real question was about whether United’s position in the Premier League is more important than success in the Carabao or FA Cup.
All this prevarication and obfuscation does speak of a manager who is still feeling the noose around his neck, despite the 3-0 victory at Southampton on Saturday, which has bought some breathing space.
Indeed, yesterday, Givemesport reported that part-owners Ineos are still very much looking for more progress over the next few weeks before they feel confident that Ten Hag should continue.
Tonight’s kick-off at Old Trafford is at 8pm.
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