Erik Ten Hag spoke in a post-match interview after their match against Real Betis. Here is what he has to say.
Ten Hag convinces Rashford to stay amid PSG’s interest
Erik ten Hag is adamant about keeping Marcus Rashford at Manchester United despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
After equating Rashford to France star Kylian Mbappe, the Dutchman gave Rashford a massive vote of confidence. Ten Hag thinks the 25-year-old forward is also on the verge of becoming one of the finest in the world.
According to the Daily Mail, the United boss said, “I immediately saw great potential. There is no better player in the world when Marcus is in the back of the defense line.’
“There is Mbappe at this time, and it’s tough to stop him. Rashford is fantastic and has significantly improved in that situation.”
In response to PSG’s interest, Ten Hag emphasized, “He must make a choice. We can only demonstrate to him why this club is the finest one to join.”
“It concerns the club’s culture and how well we operate together. It has to do with how we practice and how we play. Are we providing the ideal setting for development?”
PSG’s Rashford interest was reaffirmed by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi last week. Still, unless a new contract can be reached, United will extend Rashford’s existing contract by another 12 months before the end of the month. If not, the athlete is allowed to contact foreign clubs from January 1.
Ten Hag on Rashford & PSG interest: “He has to make a decision, so we can only show him that Man Utd is the best club to be in”. ?? #MUFC
On deal to be extended until 2024 by triggering the option: “He has one-and-a-half years and yes, Rashford will be here for all of that”. pic.twitter.com/JDzgBz2tqc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 11, 2022
Ten Hag names positive aspects of United’s mid-season training camp
Due to senior regulars competing in this winter’s World Cup, Erik ten Hag’s team faced Spanish teams Cadiz and Real Betis in friendlies. Ten Hag used a side primarily made up of fringe and academy players.
Sadly, the Reds lost both contests, but the doubleheader gave Ten Hag a chance to evaluate some of his choices, including the younger guys.
“We made advancements. As you can see, our team was once more inexperienced, whereas Real Betis had a more seasoned squad,” according to Ten Hag on the official Manchester United website.
“The first half was alright; our attacks were effective. I was pleased with the first half because we played more intensely than we did in the game against Cadiz.”
“We had a fantastic week; there was a positive attitude. The guys put in a great deal of effort. Better fitness was our main goal for the week, and we achieved it by making progress in that area.”
“To prepare them to advance, we also included some young men, integrating them into the style we play and how we play with passion. I was pleased with a few of them, which is a significant victory for the future.”
Man United transfer updates
According to reports, Kim Min-Jae, Napoli’s central defender, is a Manchester United target.
The player was offered to United for £3 million 18 months back before moving to Chinese club Beijing Sinobo Guoan.
Later, Napoli purchased him for £16 million. Kalidiou Koulibaly has been more than adequately replaced by Kim at the Italian club.
Questions are now being raised at Old Trafford about why the team didn’t pursue the 26-year-old who has proven to be a more than capable replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly, who left for Chelsea, according to The Mirror.
Because of a £38 million release clause in his contract, many suitors, including Real Madrid, have begun to approach the Italians with offers. While a center-back is not a priority for United, this is a player they would love to get their hands on.
? Manchester United continue to track Cody Gakpo and Gonçalo Ramos situation.
? #MUFC ? #SLBenfica ? #PSV pic.twitter.com/NNPfhQjfGL— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) December 11, 2022
In the upcoming weeks, Man Utd is expected to be connected to several forwards, and according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, they have scouted Goncalo Ramos.
Cody Gakpo is one option that Manchester United is examining, but there are others. They are still debating the appropriate course of action internally before moving forward,’ Romano wrote for Caught Offside.
They frequently had scouts see Gonçalo Ramos play for Benfica, but other clubs perceived the same thing.
