TEN: TOP 4 IS No.1
Erik says getting United back into Champions League is first priority
ERIK TEN HAG says his first target as Manchester United manager is to take the club back into the Champions League.
United finished sixth in the Premier League, meaning they will play in the Europa League next season.
But Ten Hag is aiming for a top-four finish in his first campaign in charge.
“This is the project – to bring Manchester United back on top,” the Dutchman revealed. But also we have to accept the current situation we are in.
“First of all, United belong in the Champions League, so that will be the first target.
“We want to win every game and that has to be the attitude from everyone – players, but also staff and all the other people at the club.
“Every game is important and we will give our best every game to win and to come forward.
“I’m happy that I’m here and I will give my best and hope and expect that I can make them proud again, that we restore United where they belong. I will give my best and
I will take the decisions necessary to get there.”
Ten Hag, who was at Crystal Palace on Sunday (below) to see his new charges lose, will take charge of his first training session as United manager when the first members of the squad return for pre-season on June 27.
Ten days later, United will embark on a two-and-a-half week tour of Thailand and Australia where they will play Liverpool, Palace and Aston Villa.
Asked what his message to United’s players will be when he meets them for their first session, Ten Hag added: “That we have to accept the current situation but also that they have good potential.
“A year before, this team was second in the league, so the potential is there. Learn the lessons from this season, we have to analyse clearly what went wrong.
“But from then on work hard, get a team and fight the opponents.
“Not all the players will be coming in, because the ones who have played internationals will have a longer break.
“But of course I’m really looking forward to it, it gives me a lot of motivation and joy to meet them.
“We need the pre-season to get the team ready for the start of the season.
“The tour will be useful, definitely, because we have to get a way of playing. We have to present our way of playing.
“We will give rules and principles. We’re bringing in structures and we’ll use the opposition to bring in the structure we want together.
“That will be useful to getting a good start to the season.”