Masc plea on Nacho
TOP-FOUR RACE HOTTING UP Ten Hag opens up on striker quest
ERIKTEN HAG confirmed that landing a new striker is his priority this summer. This admission came shortly after Manchester United fans had playfully serenaded England captain Harry Kane with chants of: “We’ll see you in June.”
Kane acknowledged he had heard the song at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday as United opened up a two-goal lead before eventually drawing 2-2.
And United boss Ten Hag, who has Spurs ace Kane and Napoli goal machinevictor Osimhen in his sights, later opened up on the importance of signing a centreforward in the upcoming window.
“I think everyone knows,” said Ten Hag, when asked if a new No.9 will be his priority. “It’s not a secret that over the whole season we had a shortage of No.9s.
“First we had the drop-out of Ronaldo, then Anthony Martial was often not available, Jadon Sancho was often not available, then you have a shortage of frontline players.
“With fewer players we have to cover many games, so definitely we need in the frontline players who strengthen the squad.
“Marcus Rashford can also play very good as a No.9 and Anthony Martial is a great No.9.we have players who can play in that role but definitely we need some offensive players who are really impact players, quality players, who improve the frontline.” Rashford has been prolific this season – his excellent strike against Spurs was his 29th for the club in all competitions, by far his best return.
That total includes his run of eight goals in seven games post-world Cup and whoever United do bring in, fans will be salivating at the prospect of having a new goal-getter and Rashford banging them in.ten Hag added: “We worked on Rashford as a No.9 – it depends on the opposition which role is the best fit.
“It’s also the formation that’s important for him, to bring players around him and especially to bring players in the back from him, where he can make combinations and make movements.
“He’s doing that very well and I’m happy and satisfied with his role.
“But also when he’s playing from the left, he has a big impact on our games.”
Ten Hag hopes he can have a big impact on Aston
Villa today as the clubs battle for a
Champions League spot. Unai Emery has transformed
Villa, who would be just three points behind
United with victory at Old Trafford today, from two games more.
A Europa League spot is a much more likely target for Villa, though Emery did mastermind a 3-1 victory over United in November – his first game in charge after replacing Steven Gerrard.
Ten Hag said: “We were low energy levels so we have to avoid that, but he surprised us with the system.we learned a lot from that game and we bounced back and had a good win over them.
“This will be a tough game.
This team made good progression but it’s up to us.
“If we’re ready, have the right energy levels with the right focus, at Old Trafford with the fans behind us, then we know we have a good chance to win.”
MANCHESTER UNITED blocked Alejandro Garnacho’s dream of playing at the Under-20
World Cup – despite a plea from Argentina coach Javier Mascherano to allow the teenager to follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi.
United winger Garnacho, who has been has sidelined for almost two months by an ankle injury, was desperate to play in the tournament being hosted in his homeland.
But club boss Erik ten Hag refused to give permission because he did not want to lose Garnacho, 18, for the final four games of the Premier League season and the FA Cup Final.
The player’s disappointment has been eased by a new five-year contract.
Former Liverpool and West Ham midfielder Mascherano contacted Ten Hag to say that Messi was also involved in a club versus country row ahead of the 2008 Olympics.
He reminded the United boss that Messi, then aged 21, returned with a gold medal and the experience helped turn him into the player he became.
But United were under no obligation to release Garnacho.
The Madrid-born teenager is regarded as one of the world’s hottest young talents and has made 29 appearances for United this season.