Bournemouth v Manchester United: Erik ten Hag press conference

Good afternoon, Eric. We got the news yesterday about more defensive injuries, but can you give us an update first on Marcus Rashford and Scott Mctominay and whether they’re available this weekend? Scott, I don’t think so. We we have a training so we have a day he will he will push he he’s so keen to be part of it tomorrow but I think it’s so it’s very questioning And then Resford rescue trained yesterday see how we recovered from from it today and we will another training today and then we will make the decision on it defensively. We know that RAF of around and Johnny Evans are going to be missing this weekend. That’s been centre back has been a particular problem for you all season last not only centre backs also left full back position in terms of the centre back in particular though how important has Harry Maguire’s experience been because he was close to leaving last summer. Are you glad now that he didn’t because he’s got such an important role to play now. You have to see that in perspective. So we were always happy with, with Harry Maguire, but yeah, he wants to play and he’s a, he’s a great leader. He’s very good defender, so very comfortable on the ball. Yeah. And when I count all those abilities, yeah, just now. And when we are in our defending line, we have our problems. Yeah. Then he’s even more important to to, to lead that line to make us play from the back. Yeah. So we are very pleased he’s there and we need to cut our results and to achieve our our our targets, John Merton’s departure this week. Eric, can I just ask you, I know that there is a structure in place now that he has moved on, how that will impact your plans and your thoughts and your ideas for the remainder of this season, but also going forward into the new season as well. I think you mentioned there’s something up in the new season. It’s very important that So the new ownership is working on this and they have to replace at this function to go into the new season For the moment, yeah, of course I miss his support and now the surround board, you missed that. But yeah, he moved on, has been made choices. So I work very good to, we work very good together. So I will say thank you to John and I wish him all the best for the future. You say you miss his support and obviously you worked closely with him, but putting your own plans in place as well. Does it impact at all on on what you want to do? No. For me as I said previously I also work with the new ownership very good and closely together and that will not change and doesn’t have impact on the way I can work hair. And so conditions were perfect and are still perfect. So I’m. I’m happy that, but we want to set the right conditions to be successful. Mickey, Eric, how, how difficult has it been not to have a settled back for pretty much throughout the whole of the season? Has that Hanford, the way that you’ve had to think every single week in the way that you pick your side? Yeah, it’s very difficult. And so everyone who has a little bit knowledge about football, a little, they know it will affect your results, your performance and your results. So, so back four is always a foundation to get in the results and we didn’t have that and but then still we have to win and we know that and so then others has to take the responsibility. But when you oversee it then you know also yeah, it has a negative impact. Eric, if we look back to the previous meeting with Bournemouth, that’s obviously the game in December, the three nil loss. And after that game you said that you thought as a squad that you weren’t good enough to be consistent at that point. How much do you sort of think that’s still a problem or to what extent do you think that things have improved in that? In that sense it was. In the sense it was after a very good performance against Chelsea in the week and we were mentally not ready for that game and they they they battled us and we lost the battles So and tomorrow will not different and that is the way they play. So they want to fight with you and so it’s about make sure you go in that fight and you have the convincement and you have so the belief and you need to support each other to win the battles and to to to outplay them, to outrun them and in defending to match the runs. Eric, how frustrating has it been for you as as the manager to be in winning positions in the last few games and then end up dropping so many points? That is of course is that is that frustrating but it is for me and but for the team as well and so the most important part well we get it and to put yourself in a winning position and also and it was not it was not look no it was well we did it out of a plan but then of course you have to bring the win over the line and and we should act in such moments we should we should act better and it’s not about organization However it has to do with individual technical mistakes sometimes technical it was not out of open play I don’t know but we have to to manage such situations better.