11 March 2023 , 22:30
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Erik ten Hag insists Manchester United’s Anfield horror-show won’t change their summer transfer policy.
Despite seeing his side collapse and concede six second half goals in the 7-0 humiliation by Liverpool, United’s Dutch boss says the seismic defeat doesn’t alter anything and won’t deflect the club from their original targets.
United have been linked with moves for Borussia Dortmund and England midfield star Jude Bellingham, Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Napoli’s Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen in a busy summer of transfer activity as Ten Hag stamps his personality on Old Trafford. And, says the Dutchman, that won’t change because of a result that sent shock-waves through football.
“No, it can't change after one game. There is a continuing process and it's already going on in the background. At the moment the main focus is game to game. The next game is always the most important and that's Southampton on Sunday.”
When Ten Hag joined from Ajax almost nine months ago, he told United bosses he would need up to four transfer windows to rebuild the team. This summer’s window was always seen by the Dutchman as the key one in re-shaping United and he remains focused on that with events at Liverpool not forcing ten Hag to rip up his plans.
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But the United boss has warned his players of what he expects in the remaining games of the season - and won’t tolerate any Anfield-style lapses with some fringe stars fighting for their futures.
Erik ten Hag won't make changes to his summer plans based on one result (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)“The end of the season is going to be even more difficult for every team because the pressure will be higher to finish high or win silverware. So you need character, determination, resilience and a team with personalities" says ten Hag.
"I think we've already shown several times this season that this team can deal with set-backs. Betis is part one and Southampton has to be another one but I think with this team we can rely on them bouncing back.”
And ten Hag isn’t worried the Liverpool defeat will trigger a collapse in League form as they chase a Champions League place. "We are not looking over our shoulders. We have to focus on our process and what others are doing is not for us. We have to improve our game and every player has to improve it.”