KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE GAS!
Defifiant Ten Hag won’t let his United stars ease off during surprise break
ERIK TEN HAG has no intention of taking a break during the upcoming gap in Manchester United’s schedule.
With this weekend’s Premier League clash against Leeds postponed and then a pause for international fixtures, United do not have a game until their derby trip to Manchester City on October 2.
United signed off for the period with a comfortable 2- 0 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol in their Europa League group in Moldova on Thursday.
“Always you use breaks,” said Ten Hag, whose side had won four successive Premier League games prior to the postponement of last week’s fixture at Crystal Palace following the death of the Queen.
“We have many meetings, we have to improve the structures in and around the club. We will do.
“We will also look to the window in January or next summer already and also to improve our way of playing by making plans.”
The City game will be the first of 13 fixtures in the space of 43 days for United before top- level domestic football closes down for the World Cup.
Ten Hag added: “Of course, it’s coming, a period with a game every third day and we have to get ready for that.
“The players, 90 per cent are away, but the others we will train properly. We have to prepare very well.
“Then I hope that everyone stays fit, returns back healthy and then we have to get in to attack.”
United had little trouble against the Moldovan champions in Chisinau, the match having been moved to the capital for security reasons.
Jadon Sancho responded to news he had been omitted from England’s latest squad by opening the scoring after 17 minutes.
Sancho then had an effort cleared off the line before Cristiano Ronaldo wrapped up victory with his first goal of the season, from the penalty spot.
Important
The win was United’s first in the competition after defeat in their Group E opener against Real Sociedad last week.
Defender Lisandro Martinez, who partnered Raphael Varane at the back, said: “We had to win as we needed the three points. It was very important to us.
“Sancho scored a fantastic goal and we know how big Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals are.”
Sancho remains hopeful of forcing his way into England’s World Cup plans.
Missing out on the Nations League squad leaves the 22- year- old with little time and much to do to claim a place in the final group for this winter’s tournament in Qatar.
Yet he put the disappointment behind him to open the scoring for United in their 2- 0 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova in the Europa League on Thursday.
“The World Cup is one of the targets,” Sancho said.
“It is unfortunate that I didn’t get the call- up but I have to keep focusing on myself and keep working hard, week- in and week- out.
“So that is what I am going to do.” Sancho, who celebrated his 17thminute goal by holding up a shin pad given to him by a fan, also had a shot
cleared off the line in a comfortable victory for United.
Cristiano Ronaldo wrapped up the win with a penalty before the break.
It was United’s first victory in the competition after losing their Group E opener to Real Sociedad last week.
“Starting the campaign with a defeat was an upsetting result, so we knew this was a must- win,” said Sancho.
Slotted
Reds defender Lisandro Martinez put in another good effort against Sheriff.
And the £ 55m buy has been talking of his pride at hearing the United fans chant his name after the game.
The Argentina international has slotted straight into the team and hasn’t put a foot wrong since arriving from Ajax. He has formed a good partnership with Raphael Varane that has seen club captain Harry Maguire confined to the bench.
Martinez said: “I’m really happy and a little bit surprised with that chant from the fans, but at the same time I feel very proud.
“To come here to the best club in the world and the people say ‘ Argentina, Argentina’, for me it’s amazing. Thanks to the fans for their support.”
And he thinks it was important to go into their break with a win.
Martinez added: “We got the three points, so it was very important for us.
“We work very hard every day in training, so today Sancho scored a fantastic goal, but how we played was fantastic.
“Sancho’s finish was great and in the end, we all celebrate an excellent win.”