A good number of United players have already returned, while those who participated in the international games last month are also set to join back.
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Manchester United supporters will be eager to see their side build on the momentum gained last season across all competitions. The Red Devils surprised many to have a season to remember. In the Premier League, Erik ten Hag’s side defied odds to surprisingly finish third in the table. They had also won a trophy by getting their hands on the EFL Cup. United nearly won another but unfortunately lost out to Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Now the focus has shifted to the pre-season, as clubs prepare for the upcoming campaign, which is just a month away. A good number of Manchester United players have already returned, while those who participated in the international games last month are also set to join back training soon. Hence, Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff will be eager to get them up to speed, as pre-season friendlies are coming thick and fast.
“I think [the international players are back] Saturday. Those players, most of them will not show up in Edinburgh as well because they need time and to have a good training week. They had to have days off and relaxation. Those players played most games in the last season, so they needed that rest. So then we have to bring them back, but you have to do it carefully and you can’t go from 0 to 100,” he told MUTV after a win in the pre-season opener.
Manchester United have already played a pre-season game by beating Leeds United 2-0, thanks to goals from youngsters Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill. “It’s the first game and I think we have seen some good things. We’ve already trained over the last year, so we have a good foundation. You can see that in the game. But yeah, also some young lads came in and they fit in. We are now one week [into] training. We presented the rules and the principles. And what I see, what can I say: we have seen some good stuff,” he explained.
Erik ten Hag is also happy to have Lisandro Martinez fit and ready after the centre-back missed the final weeks of last season due to an injury. “Licha was, in the last part of the season, injured, and you still can see he’s now on his way back. So he worked very hard during the summer and now he’s returned for the first time back in the game. But you see he’s a little bit lacking in rhythm but you also see Rapha and Licha fitting very well together, they’re very solid,” he elaborated.
The manager was all praise for French defender Raphael Varane, who has been an integral part of the club’s defence in recent times. “He’s fantastic. He’s had a fantastic personality from the first moment I met him and, of course, I know him over the years and what he already achieved at Real Madrid and at France. That’s unbelievable. You think when you are young, you can hardly believe you can achieve such things. But Rapha did. So that is so huge. And so we are full of respect from everyone around United internally and also you see the fans they admire him,” he stated.
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