Erik ten Hag says Manchester United’s ambition is to win the Premier League, claiming they have only been second best to rivals Manchester City since his arrival in 2022.
The Dutchman has led the club to Carabao Cup and FA Cup triumphs in his first two seasons but they finished a disappointing eighth in May.
United begin their campaign at home to Fulham on Friday night with Ten Hag looking to improve on their worst Premier League finish. “We also won two trophies, which gave us belief that we are capable of winning,” Ten Hag said when asked if they can use last season’s league disappointment as motivation.
“With the two trophies we won more than any other club, apart from City, in England. We are confident, we have a good team, we have a good squad. We have to be more consistent and we want to win every competition in which we are taking part, definitely also the Premier League.”
The club were boosted this week by the arrival from Bayern Munich of the defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, who both worked with Ten Hag at Ajax. The captain Bruno Fernandes also signed a contract extension at Old Trafford.
“He has fantastic potential,” Ten Hag said of De Ligt. “Matthijs turned 25 this week and he has almost 375 games for Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich under the belt, that is incredible and now he is coming into his best years. He has great skills as a footballer and as a character and personality. I am really pleased to have him here.”
Like much of last season, United start the campaign without two left-backs after Luke Shaw was ruled out of the early weeks with a calf injury, while Tyrell Malacia remains unavailable after missing last season. Those absences may result in Mazraoui making his debut against Fulham.
Shaw missed the final four months of the 2023-24 campaign with a hamstring problem before playing for England at the Euros and returning to United, where he averages 19 league appearances a season over the decade he has been at Old Trafford. “First season when I was here he played many games so I am very confident we will get him back into shape,” Ten Hag said of Shaw. “He is only 29 years old, he’s already played many games for Manchester United already. When I talk to Luke, he is so committed, so united. I have a strong belief he will return quickly and contribute to our levels.”
Rasmus Højlund will be missing with a hamstring injury but Ten Hag is unlikely to start another new signing, Joshua Zirkzee. Fernandes began furthest forward against City in the Community Shield but Ten Hag could also pick Marcus Rashford as a central striker. “I am so happy I have those choices, that fits for all units, all positions, we need a number of players going into the season,” Ten Hag said. “We think about 60 games so it will be a survival of the fittest, we need squad depth. You have to make choices and you need rotation. No player can play all the games but also internal competition and you also need some weapons to use tactically.”
