One of the biggest surprises in the pre-season was to see Jadon Sancho, who is primarily a winger, operate as a false nine.
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Manchester United will be keen to build on the positive feeling from last season, as they prepare for the start of a new campaign. The Red Devils are currently in the middle of a pre-season tour, as they are training to get their fitness levels back on track following the summer break. United have already made couple of exciting additions, with Mason Mount and Jadon Sancho joining the club. They have also enjoyed good amount of success in the friendlies till now.
Next up for Manchester United are successive games against Wrexham and Real Madrid in the United States. Ahead of the meetings, manager Erik ten Hag was asked about the traveling involved during these tours. Ten Hag, quoted by the club’s website, said, “It’s about finding a good balance. And football is one, two, three. And so football is making the schedule, but also, you have to know, what you say, we are a global brand and we have to sell the club.”
“We want, also, to come to our fans and our fans are all over the world. So we want to show ourselves there. For ourselves it is also a fantastic experience and you are for two weeks away. And I think it’s a big advantage that you are for two weeks with the players, to really build the team spirit. Also, with the staff the co-operation in between the staff towards the players. So, it’s a great opportunity to strengthen that and that’s what we’re working on. So, I think it’s really useful.”
One of the biggest surprises in the pre-season was to see Jadon Sancho, who is primarily a winger, operate as a false nine. Asked about it, ten Hag said, “He is doing well, also in that role. I think Jadon is the best in positions in central positions where he can get involvements and also when he played in wide areas.”
“But, you know, when you’re playing with me in the wide areas, in the right setting, you also have the freedom in the right setting. So it can be right to be inside in [number] 10 positions, in central positions, but also when you are in such positions you have to make runs behind because that is very important to our way of play, that we have many players who run in behind.”
The Manchester United manager was also asked if there will be a new striker before the Premier League season begins. “I think what I can say is we will do everything what’s in our power to get that done. And, to me, yeah, as soon as possible. How early, the better, because we have to integrate them in the team, in the way of play. So, in an ideal situation, he was already here. But you’re not always getting ideal situations as a manager and you have to deal with the situation,” he explained.
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