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Erik ten Hag casts doubt on major overhaul of Man United squad

Published 14:25 23 May 2022 BST

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'This team was second in the Premier League'

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has cast doubt over a major overhaul of the squad in the summer after pointing out that they were 'good enough' to finish second in the 2020/21 season. United had been expected to embark on a significant revamp of their squad this summer, with several players - including Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani - expected to leave Old Trafford.

Ten Hag keen to play 'dominant and dictating football.'

However, speaking in his first interview as the club's new boss, Ten Hag highlighted the 'potential' in a team that finished second in the top-flight last campaign - despite the fact they have recorded their lowest points tally of the Premier League era in a bitterly disappointing 2021/22 season. The Dutchman, who arrives at Old Trafford on a three-year deal with an option for a fourth, insisted that his ambition at United is to play 'dominant and dictating football' and to bring entertainment back to the supporters. Asked what he sees in the future for United, Ten Hag said: "It's first: accept the current situation but also know one year ago, this club, this team was second in the Premier League. https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1528718639133667328

Ten Hag downplays talk of Man United squad overhaul.

United, who announced the appointments of Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren as Ten Hag's assistants on Monday morning, finished 13 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, and 35 behind champions and rivals Manchester City. The 52-year-old Ten Hag admitted that it would be a 'big challenge' to turn around the club's fortunes and that 'good is not good enough'. "We want to make the fans proud," he added. "Second, of course we are in this moment, the current situation is obviously not that good.