Man Utd news & stats: Erik ten Hag discusses plan to improve attacking play after impressive Real Betis performance
Erik ten Hag has discussed how Manchester United can improve their attacking play heading into the forthcoming 2024/25 season.
The record 20-time English champions are concluding their pre-season preparations, with attention soon turning to their Community Shield clash with neighbours and Premier League champions Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on August 10.
United ended their last campaign with an FA Cup title but finished eighth in England’s top division, their worst performance since coming 13th under Alex Ferguson in 1990. While the club’s all-time season-low figure of 49 goals scored was at risk of being broken, they finished strong in that regard with five goals in their last two games to finish on 57 goals scored.
While so much attention was placed on Ten Hag’s setup last season, particularly the gap between the midfield and defence, the structure was completely different in the FA Cup final. However, the Dutch tactician feels there’s room for improvement.
One area that his team is working on is making sure there are repetitive movements and motions so that the players, without even thinking, will be able to execute on the pitch, especially in the attacking patterns.
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“Sure. And we, we are building our foundation and actually we are not even into detail yet. It is just a foundation and football is very complicated sport, especially at the top. And we are building now the movements and the fine details of attacking which so important is course scoring goals. There’s a lot of work to do, but we are already building a foundation,” he told Sky Sports.
In the club’s most recent friendly against Betis, which they emerged as 3-2 winners, Ten Hag saw enough positive signs.
“I think the team did very well. We trying to build the structures, but I will not say it is already perfect. And when the resistance will be higher and then the intensity is getting higher, we have to do it quicker and building better relationships on the pitch to get the connections right,” he added.
“But again, that’s what we have pre-season for. We getting into a structure and now we have to do it quicker. And as you say, it has to be a way of life – automatic.”
Man Utd’s average position during their 2023/24 Premier League campaign
The inability to field his strongest eleven regularly didn’t help Ten Hag last season, with injuries tearing through the United squad. In pre-season, the Red Devils saw Rasmus Hojlund suffer an injury that will keep him on the shelf for the foreseeable future. At the same time, Marcus Rashford and much-maligned winger Antony also suffered setbacks.
Someone’s misfortune can be another player’s gain, with Amad Diallo, in particular, seizing his opportunities this summer. Heading into the final pre-season fixture against eternal rivals Liverpool, the Ivorian forward has netted in two of United’s previous friendlies against Betis and Rangers.
Diallo, to date, has made 21 official appearances for United, registering three goals, with one being a dramatic late winner over Liverpool in last season’s FA Cup quarter-final.
“Yes, he [Amad] is performing well and [he is having] a good pre-season so far,” Ten Hag said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“You could see absolutely he is making an uplift in his game. Also, in the defending part with the counter-press but also with the pressing he is doing really well. So, I am really pleased with his performance.”
