Press conference and other interviews thread

Brighton press conference:

Ten Hag confirms Shaw is a major doubt for FA Cup final
"Luke is more complicated in this moment, let's say it's less of a chance he will make it but still a very small chance. He had a setback, now we have to find out how far it is."

Ten Hag on Varane and Lindelof
"We're working to bring players back. Licha (Martinez) had a good session now as well, others on the pitch like Rapha (Varane), Victor Lindelof, we have to see how far they are on Sunday. Tomorrow we're off, Saturday we have training."

Ten Hag hopeful Maguire will be ready for FA Cup final
"Harry Maguire has a fair chance that he will be available."

Ten Hag addresses Rashford incident with fan before Newcastle fixture
"I saw yesterday, I felt the fans, they were all very positive about the mood, spirit and ambiance in the stadium. That is very good and it shows the strong bond between the team and the fans."

Ten Hag on the prospect of VAR being scrapped
"I don't think there is a way back. In principle it makes football more fair. But we have problems. We have to make improvements."

Ten Hag on the confidence United youngsters will gain from Newcastle win
"Confidence is a great thing. This season we almost didn’t get the turning point, now we can make a step through. I remember the Arsenal game and in the 87th minute, I thought we won it. That could have given a big lift to the team. We never got this but a game like yesterday will help us, especially the young players. It will give us lots of confidence."
 
Setback :lol:

Have we ever had single return from injury earlier than predicted? Our medical team must be nowhere near required standard, no one can convince me otherwise. And it's been like that sinc the Fergie times, I wonder how many same people are still employed at that department.
 
FA Cup final press conference:

Ten Hag's thoughts on FA Cup final
"It's all about trophies but you need an opportunity to win a trophy. So last ten years, not so many trophies in this club but we have an opportunity to win two trophies in two years."

Ten Hag on team news
"Yeah, Harry Maguire is unavailable but for the rest, all of the players you mentioned are available. Tomorrow final training and we make final decisions but the way I see it now it looks good (that Mount, Lindelof and Martial are available)."

Maguire ruled out of FA Cup final
"Maguire? It (the injury) didn't heal as expected."

Ten Hag on Rashford
"He looks good. That is a career ups and downs, a down can also give fuel and that is what I see in training, he will be highly motivated, speak with your feet, highly intelligent, he has had a big career, I'm sure he will get over this and get more goals."

How important is this game?
"Every game I want to win and that's it, I just focus on this game as I do for every game, I know it's an important game as it's about a trophy."

Would the FA Cup salvage the season?
"No, but it's FA Cup final, is a big event and we are there, even in the season is not in our way we are there, we have an opportunity and it's never been easy but we have to go for it and we will go for it, we have to believe as we did last season as we have done often against good opponents, we play our best football and I expect that again on Saturday."

Have you been thinking about transfers?
"Yes, of course but my focus is… until Saturday I only think about this game."

Outside suggestions this could be your final game?
"I have nothing to say. Just focusing on the job I have to do and that is first win the game on Saturday and then the project, keep going with the project."

How is your time at United judged?
"I came here to win trophies, Saturday, the next opportunity we achieved this, we earned this opportunity as a team and now we have to go for it and in the same time in the last two years, of course, after every season you review it and we will see where we are in the project, things we have to change, we spoke lately about it, very good things, players coming up, values coming up and on Saturday we have a big opportunity to win the next trophy."

Different approach required against City?
"I think we were very competitive until a VAR decision at Old Trafford, a tough decision I thought. No one understood, we haven't seen this in the rest of the season, a decision in such moment. At Etihad, for 70 minutes we were very good in the game, we had opportunities to make a second goal, they had a bench and on Saturday we will have a bench."
 
ETH's interview scrapes with Shearer after the FA Cup are an example of non-journalists questioning above their pay grade.
It was Cup final day, United had just won the Cup for the 13th time, with a sound game plan to defeat one of (if not the) best teams around, in a knockout competition, but Shearer questions him about Premier League results?

Could it be anything to do with United's win knocking Newcastle out of Europe next year?.... Of course not, perish the thought! ;)
 


Has this ever happened before, in the history of this sport? A player fielding all the questions with no manager/coach beside him? :lol:

"we've got new staff, Roy and other one" :lol: :lol: :lol:

Edit: Just watched it all - such a cool laid back young man. Absolutely brilliant.
 
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Man City press conference:

Ten Hag on injuries​

"Harry Maguire missed the game (vs Liverpool), was a precaution but is still a question mark for Saturday. So we have training, we have to see whether he is fit enough or not to be available. Victor [Lindelof] played but also he's a question mark and also Azza [Aaron Wan-Bissaka] and Luke Shaw are both question marks, we have to assess them tomorrow (Friday)."

Ten Hag on if the Copa America contingent will feature at Wembley​

"That is individual based, everyone has a different background, we put them on off-season programmes but they have different starts while we were in USA, we will assess them, make a decision whether they start, come from the bench or whether they don't play."

Ten Hag on if Martinez will feature at Wembley​

"We think about Licha to be involved in the game."

Ten Hag on Mount's pre-season showings​

"We know he's a high class player and just bringing skills in. Last season, he had a very bad season, a very tough season for him because of all injuries and now we are very pleased he had a good pre-season and I'm sure from this point on he will contribute to the team if he stays fit, it counts for every player."

Ten Hag on transfers​

"When we have news, we will announce it. You've seen the market, it is quite quiet still. We have done business, we have done two deals, it's about timings, the market, the market options, the right moment and the right things."

Ten Hag is asked if it is in midfield he wants to strengthen​

"I don't go into details, where we are now in recruitment, what we are working on. We know what we are doing, we are in a good position with the squad and just wait, patience and in the right moment we will tell you."

Ten Hag on if United need to sell to be able to buy more​

"We did already, we bought already. As I said, we have a squad where in every position there is double occupation."

Ten Hag on Sancho's versatility​

"Jadon can play across the whole frontline, he's an option for more than one position and it depends how you set up the team, you can look at your own tactics, opponents that fit the best and Jadon had some abilities you can use in a game, tactics and the next game."

Ten Hag on why United will treat Community Shield clash seriously​

"So, we always want to win, also in all the friendlies. It's about trophy, we will put out a team that is very competitive to win this trophy. It's also pre-season, we don't go into big risks with players, the normal approach in to this game."
 
Fulham Press conference

Ten Hag on if De Ligt and Mazraoui will be in the squad tomorrow​

"They will be in the squad. And Harry Maguire will be in the squad as well."

Ten Hag hints at selection headache​

"Issues are there but it's not about the players who are not available, it's about the players who are available. We have a good group, we can make a strong selection, we can put out a strong team and we will do."

Ten Hag on Shaw's injury​

"I think he will return in the short-term, doesn't take long. We are looking forward, of course. Luke Shaw is a very important player for our team so he's massive, important, we want to get him back as soon as possible but we can't force this process."

Ten Hag on this season's ambitions​

"We know our targets, we know that we are in the right direction, we know we have won two trophies, we know our game model, so now we have to integrate the new players and if they can improve the game model and improve the team levels. And take it from there. I have always very high expectations but we want to go for trophies."

Ten Hag on if United are ready for the new season​

"No, it's true, it's not the pre-season where you can in five or six weeks work on the team. It's very complicated. But we had the USA tour squad, we add players at the Euros and Copa America, now new signings and now we have to make a team from it. That team is not ready but the league starts. More managers have to deal with this problem, we definitely have this problem. But we have some rules, some principles, we have to make a start, can’t hide, we can’t run away from it, we have to deal with it."

Ten Hag admits United need to be more clinical​

"We know we create many chances, it's about composure, more clinical. In both boxes it will be an attention point in the coming weeks and months to improve. We need too many chances."


Ten Hag on what Mazraoui will bring to United​

"We were looking and we can sort problems over the left side. For instance Licha Martinez and Diogo Dalot are capable of playing there. Mazraoui is an additional one who can fill the position as long as Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia aren't in the team. They are different and I think it's quite difficult to put him under pressure, especially in English football, that can be very beneficial."


Ten Hag on how long it might take United to get up to speed​

"We are now working together for say 10 days. It will always take a while. More teams will have this problem. At the start of the season, the aim is to not drop points, work hard and work hard in and out of possession. We have to go from game to game to get to higher performance levels. We will see how quick we can go through this process."
 

Ten Hag on this season's ambitions​

"We know our targets, we know that we are in the right direction, we know we have won two trophies, we know our game model, so now we have to integrate the new players and if they can improve the game model and improve the team levels. And take it from there. I have always very high expectations but we want to go for trophies."

How political.
 
Any news on Zirkzee , when can we expect him to feature?

Even though included in the squad last week ETH said he was still a bit away from been ready for the season. Some reports mentioned weeks away.
 
Can’t say I liked the presser as it seemed downbeat. Maybe players like Shaw being absent for so long is hitting home.
 
Seemed like EtH was managing expectations, or perhaps some mind games?
 
Erik ten Hag is asked about reports Manchester United are trying to sign Paris St-Germain's Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte.

"We will always try to make the best squad possible. When we have news we will bring it."

More from Erik ten Hag on Victor Lindelof: "He has an issue on his toe, hopefully he can return quickly but not available for the weekend.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag on Manuel Ugarte update: "We have a couple of days and we will always improve, as long as we have the opportunity we will look for it."

On if he is happy with business so far: "Yes, very pleased. They’re showing we're going in the right direction.

"We know as a club we have to catch up but it shows our ambition, the way we want to go.

"We have done good business, very good players, quality players who will add, contribute to our squad and the quality of our squad."

Erik ten Hag on Jadon Sancho: "We will see. We have a squad and I hope we will have a squad with double positioning. When we go into the season after 1 September, that means you can’t select all the players but you need them all throughout the season because it is survival of the fittest.

"We have to manage it, the attitude of the players is very important, sometimes they will be disappointed they are not in the starting XI but they have to deal with it, you win as a squad.

"The prizes are decided next May and until then we need all the players in the squad and highly motivated, that is not an expectation, that is a demand on the squad.

"The team is always more important than any individual."
 
More from Erik ten Hag on Joshua Zirkzee: "Very pleasing that a player who is a striker scores his first goal in his first game,

"That will give him confidence, we're very pleased that it’s happened. I give the comparison last year with Rasmus Hojlund that when he scored against Brighton and the VAR looked, five minutes later they came to the conclusion the ball crossed the line in the assist and he had to wait thee months for his first Premier League goal.

"It helps absolutely scoring his first goal, it gives him confidence and gives us confidence as a team."

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag on Facundo Pellistri's move to Panathinaikos: "He’s a very talented player, progressed very good last season, but we have a lot of competition in wide areas.

"We look at what we need as a squad but every player needs a perspective and in this moment we had many players to compete in these positions.

"We couldn’t give him the right perspective in this club, but he has high potential and he needs games to improve and to progress, he gets the opportunity at Panathinaikos and we will follow the process."

And finally, on if they need to sell to bring players in: "I didn’t say I’m looking for transfers coming in, also I don’t say that players are going out.

"I said patience. You guys have to wait, when we have news we will bring it."
 
"You have inherited lots of problem, while Arne Slot has inherited a great squad".

Are these journalist our employees or something?
 
"You have inherited lots of problem, while Arne Slot has inherited a great squad".

Are these journalist our employees or something?
I don't know what further context there was, but taken at face value, that statement is simply true. What else was said that bothered you about this?
 
I don't know what further context there was, but taken at face value, that statement is simply true. What else was said that bothered you about this?

Liverpool are a great team?