Erik ten Hag backs failing Man Utd stars as January transfer decision looms

22 December 2023 , 12:51

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Erik ten Hag backs failing Man Utd stars as January transfer decision looms

Erik ten Hag has defended Manchester United's goal drought and backed his players to end it - starting at West Ham on Saturday.

United have failed to score in their last three games - a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich and a 0-0 stalemate at arch rivals Liverpool. That run has seen them drop out of Europe and down to seventh in the Premier League table.

If United fail to score at the London Stadium, it will equal their worst run in the Premier League since April 2015 - against Chelsea, Everton and West Brom, under Louis van Gaal. Only four top-flight teams have conceded more goals than the Hammers this term.

United's £72million summer signing Rasmus Hojlund has yet to score in the league, while Marcus Rashford - last season's 30-goal hero - has just two to his name this season. Despite that, Ten Hag is confident his team will get back among the goals.

Ten Hag said at his pre-match press conference on Friday: "We can definitely improve, but it's not about one player, it's a group - all of us. My philosophy is we have to attack with 11. We have to get movement better, decision making on the ball has to be better.

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"Sometimes we have to be more clinical, and the best chance at Liverpool was ours, it was a great attempt (from Hojlund). First of all, we played very strong teams, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. Before that, we had a poor game (against Bournemouth).

Erik ten Hag is confident Manchester United can get back to winning ways (Getty Images)

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"But I think there are a issues where we have to improve. The current squad I am happy with. As we get our players back, we have a good squad. I am sure when all the players are on board, it will look different."

In terms of personnel for the trip to West Ham, Ten Hag's squad has been impacted by illness this week, to add to the players he is without because of injury. On Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez, Ten Hag said: "They are not available before Christmas.

"It will be mid-January when we expect them back. Mason Mount is similar, mid-January. Harry Maguire, I expect him early (January). Victor Lindelof is not available. He has had surgery, so he will be out for a couple of weeks. He had a problem so he had surgery.

"So now we have some doubts. Some illnesses during the week, so we have to see who is available for tomorrow. Hopefully they have recovered, but we have to see."

David McDonnell