Erik ten Hag is not under pressure to guide Manchester United to a top-four finish next season, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe prioritising considerable progression of the team as the man in charge of football operations at United aims to establish sustained excellence there.
While Ten Hag’s ambition is to lead United to as high a position as possible and Ratcliffe’s Ineos-led football department want the same, there is a recognition there are no guarantees next season as the club rebuilds and that establishing a firm foundation will allow ongoing success. In concert with the sporting director, Dan Ashworth, Ten Hag’s remit is to significantly improve on-field performance and off-field standards. After United finishing eighth last year, their lowest of the Premier League era, there is a recognition that all areas of football policy require repurposing.
Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee have been bought and Ten Hag and Ashworth are also targeting a defence-minded midfielder – Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte is admired – as well as a full-back, with Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui on their radar.
Off the field, Ratcliffe has green-lit a £50m overhaul of the club’s Carrington training complex, which may take all of the coming season to complete. This will improve facilities for the men’s, women’s and academy teams, but temporarily and controversially has led to the women’s team having to operate out of portable buildings.
Last season’s 60-plus injuries that seriously affected the side’s performance have also been assessed with Ten Hag’s wish that pre-season be shortened to ensure players receive more rest adhered to. Last summer, United played eight matches across 15,236 miles, taking in trips to Oslo, Edinburgh, New Jersey, San Diego, Houston, and Las Vegas. This year there are six matches – including the Community Shield against Manchester City on 10 August – across 13,614 miles, taking in visits to Trondheim, Edinburgh, Los Angeles, San Diego and South Carolina.
On Wednesday, Ten Hag’s squad flew out to LA ahead of playing Arsenal on Saturday at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium. The following Wednesday United will take the short trip down the west coast to face Real Betis at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium, before flying to South Carolina for the final leg of the US tour, playing Liverpool at Columbia’s Williams-Brice Stadium.
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