Eric ten Hag fears the World Cup has set Manchester United back ahead of the Premier League’s return – and is urging his players not to lose touch with the “rules and principles” he implemented at the start of the season
By Chris Wheeler for the Daily Mail
Posted: 22:30, December 20, 2022 | Updated: 23:36, December 20, 2022
Eric ten Hag fears the World Cup has set Manchester United back and has warned his players not to let their standards slip in the second half of the season.
United return to domestic action on Wednesday night when they face Burnley in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford.
Half of United’s squad were away on World Cup duty and Ten Haag is worried they will lose touch with the “rules and principles” he has implemented since taking over.
Eric ten Hag fears World Cup has set Manchester United back ahead of league return
He worries his team will forget the “rules and principles” he implemented at Old Trafford
The Dutchman is particularly concerned that the passive style favored by a number of nations at the finals does not suit United’s proactive approach.
“They have been playing for six weeks in a different environment with a different style of play and they need to get back to our rules and principles. All 11 players must be on the same page.
“You saw in this World Cup many nations played passively, waited and played on the reaction.
“We saw against Manchester City, that was our big problem in that game. We want to be dominant and proactive, but we played differently.
Manchester United face Vincent Kompany’s Burnley in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday
Ten Hag admitted: “We’re in a good direction, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement”
The Ten Hag will be without several of their World Cup stars against the Championship leaders, but he believes the club have made good progress since he arrived from Ajax in the summer.
“We are in a good direction, but there is still a lot of room for improvement,” Ten Haag added.
“It means maintaining high standards. I always say that complacency makes you lazy. If you’re too happy with yourself and the team, you won’t maintain those standards.
Meanwhile, United have extended the contracts of Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot and Fred by one year until June 2024.
The Red Devils have put in motion a one-year contract extension for Marcus Rashford until June 2024.
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