Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United 'not ready' for start of Premier League season against Fulham on Friday

Manchester United will start the new Premier League season on Friday evening when they face Fulham. United have been busy in the summer transfer window but manager Erik ten Hag says the team is "not ready" for their opener. "We have to make a start, can’t hide, we can’t run away from it, we have to deal with it," said Ten Hag, who will have Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui in his squad.

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says his team are "not ready” to start the Premier League season.

United will get the 2024/25 campaign under way when they host Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday evening.

United have been among the biggest spenders this transfer window, bringing in Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee.

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De Ligt and Mazraoui only joined this week and Yoro has been ruled out for three months with injury. Striker Rasmus Hojlund and defender Luke Shaw are also out with injuries.

"The team is not ready but the league starts," said Ten Hag. “There are more managers that have to deal with this problem, we definitely have this problem.

“But we have some rules, some principles, but we have to make a start, can’t hide, we can’t run away from it, we have to deal with it."

He added: “It’s not the pre-season where in five to six weeks you work on a team, it’s very complicated.

"The USA tour squad and then we added the players at Euros and Copa America and now new signings and we have to make a team from it… Still, we have some room, have some principles and we have to make a start.”

Ten Hag confirmed that De Ligt and Mazraoui will be in the squad to face Fulham along with Harry Maguire, who missed Euro 2024 as he was recovering from injury.

"Issues are there but it's not about the players who are not available,” said Ten Hag.

“It's also what I said always last season - it's about the players who are available. We have a good group, we can make a strong selection, we can put out a strong team and we will do."

Ten Hag’s future at United appeared uncertain towards the end of last season, with reports around the FA Cup final claiming he was facing the sack.

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But not only has he remained in charge, he has extended his Manchester United contract until 2026.

Asked whether he feels different going into his third season in charge, Ten Hag said: “Not so different. But we know our targets, we know that we are in the right direction, we know that we have won two trophies, we know our game model.

“So now we have to integrate the new players where we think they can improve the game model and improve the team levels. And take it from there.

“I have always very high expectations. But again, we want to go for trophies."

United's match against Fulham is followed by Ipswich Town v Liverpool on Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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