Boys to men
Boss ten hag tells his terrific young trio they have bright futures... but must step it up and deliver against the big boys
ERIK TEN HAG has told Manchester United’s new crop of kids it’s time to turn up in the biggest games.
Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, and Kobbie Mainoo have starred in United’s recent revival, banging in 11 goals in the last seven games.
United have lost only one of the eight games that the trio – who sat on an advertising board to celebrate the 3-0 win over West Ham on Sunday, in what has become an iconic snap – have started together.
Ten Hag (right) feels they are United’s future and says their next challenge is to deliver in the crucial games, like Aston Villa away on Sunday. “I think they enjoy playing together, there is adventure, they’re a danger,” said the United boss. “They want to do it together, to pass to each other so that they can all play to their qualities and everyone can score goals. It’s great if they want to do it together because that is the key.
“They are young players and the future for Manchester United is quite bright with such talent on board, but you have to develop the talent. There’s a lot of space for improvement and that’s necessary if you want to go to the top levels.
“It’s also important that they show the same threat against the best opposition.”
The Old Trafford coach belives Hojlund, who has 11 goals, Garnacho (seven), and Mainoo (two) now have the platform to perform because the Red Devils are settling down after a traumatic first half of the season.
“Players need time, especially young players,” he said. “They also need a team to be playing well, so those two things were not there in the first part of the season. We had to make a lot of adjustments in our way of playing, so it was difficult to serve the offensive part of the team. When that happens, players can progress really quickly.
“From the start I was confident they had the potential to do what they’re doing and now it’s all about staying hungry.”
Ten Hag was gutted to lose defensive linchpin Lisandro Martinez for eight weeks with a knee injury in only is fourth game back after four months out with a foot problem, but he insists United can cope.
Aaron Wan Bissaka is close to returning, but Mason Mount is still not ready.
“It’s a big setback for Licha,” he said. “He’s very disappointed but he’s a fighter. He’ll be back. He’ll be back stronger before the end of the season.
“We have to replace him and we have players who can play there. We have options and good centre-halves.”
United have moved into sixth place in the Premier League table but they are six points behind fifth-placed Spurs and eight points short of a top-four spot.
After Sunday’s trip to Villa, they visit Luton the following Sunday before hosting Fulham. An FA Cup fifthround tie at Nottingham Forest comes four days before the Manchester derby at the Etihad on March 3.