09 February 2024 , 06:00
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Erik ten Hag has told Manchester United’s new crop of kids they must also turn on the style in the club’s biggest games.
Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have starred in United’s revival and the trio have banged in 11 goals in the club’s last seven games. United have only lost one of the eight games they have started together and they sat on an advertising board to celebrate their 3-0 win over West Ham at Old Trafford on Sunday in what has become an iconic picture.
Ten Hag feels they are United’s future and says their next challenge is to deliver in their big games, like Aston Villa away on Sunday. “I think they enjoy playing together, there is adventure, they’re a danger,” said the United boss.
“They want to do it together and to pass to each other so that everyone can play to their qualities and everyone can score goals. It’s great if they want to do it together because this is the key, then we can have a lot of pleasure from this.
“They are young players and the future for Manchester United is quite bright with such talent on board, but you have to develop the talent. There’s a lot of space for improvement and that’s necessary if you want to go to the top levels.
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“This club wants to achieve a lot, to win trophies, is very ambitious, so they then have to step up and bring higher levels and consistency. Also against the best opposition, they have to express the same threat and it’s about end product.”
Hojlund has 11 goals, Garnacho seven and Mainoo two and Ten Hag says they can perform because United are settling down after a traumatic first half to the season. “Players need time, especially young players like them,” he said. “They also need a team, so those two effects were not there in the first part of the season.
“We had to make a lot of adjustments in our way of playing, so it was difficult to serve the offensive part of the team. When that happens, it can go really quickly for players to progress. From the start I was confident they have the potential to do what they are now doing and now it’s about keep going, keep moving, be hungry.”
Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have starred in United’s revival (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Ten Hag is gutted to lose defensive linchpin Lisandro Martinez for eight weeks with a knee injury in only his fourth game back after four months out with a foot problem, but he insists United can cope. Ten Hag says Aaron Wan-Bissaka is close to returning, but that Mason Mount is still not ready.
“Licha was returning, you saw his contribution to the team when he played and apart from the technical skills, he has the mentality,” he said. "It’s a big setback for Licha. He’s very disappointed, but he’s a fighter. He’ll be back, he’ll be back stronger and he will be before the end of the season.
“As a squad, we have to replace him and we have players who can play there and will play there. We have options and we have good centre-halves in our squad.”
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