Erik ten Hag opens up on his plans for Manchester United pre-season tour
Posted by  badge Boss on Jul 10, 2022 - 12:07PM
Erik ten Hag is taking his players on his first pre-season tour as Manchester United manager (Picture: Getty Images)

Erik ten Hag has explained what he wants to achieve with his squad as they embark on a tour of Asia, flying out with his squad on Friday.

The Red Devils have an extremely busy pre-season ahead of them, playing six friendlies across Thailand, Australia, Norway and then back at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman is looking to get his ideas across and get his squad used to the style of play he wants to put on show under his management.

The former boss is known for a high-energy, pressing style, which he went into more detail on before flying to Thailand this week.

‘We want to play a proactive style of football,’ he explained to club media. ‘On the ball and off the ball. Trying to do that has to be our intention. The coaches bring it over to the team that we are, in every situation, proactive.

‘We are brave and willing to have the ball, to give each other options. But also off the ball, to get the pressing style is what we’re working for together.’

Ten Hag has been working to get his ideas over to his new players as quickly as possible (Picture: Getty Images)

Ten Hag is looking to bring a new set of tactics to the Manchester United dressing room, but also to inject some impetus where it had been lacking previously.

He has been encouraged by what he has seen so far on this front, with praise for his new players in training.

‘Of course, I want to bring the energy in my team,’ he said. ‘But I must say, the players do really well. They are really focused. They bring, for themselves, the energy.

‘You see they enjoy playing football. They enjoy playing football together and they really work well together.’

United’s first friendly is against Liverpool in Bangkok on Tuesday before heading to the MCG to take on Melbourne Victory on Friday.

Ten Hag said of his hopes for the globe-trotting tour: ‘I have to learn, to know my squad, the personnel, the individuals, the players.

‘That is, I think, one of the biggest advantages from the tour. We have two weeks to work really close together and we will learn about each other because I want to learn about them and they want to learn about me, my coaches and assistants.’

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