Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag reveals that new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will both be in the squad for Friday’s Premier League clash with Fulham at Old Trafford.
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has revealed that Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will both be in the squad for Friday’s Premier League clash with Fulham at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils confirmed deals for the defensive pair earlier this week, with the duo arriving from German giants Bayern Munich.
De Ligt and Mazraoui have been training alongside their new teammates this week, and Ten Hag said during Thursday’s press conference that the pair would both be available for the team’s campaign opener against Fulham.
“They will be in the squad,” Ten Hag told reporters, with the Dutchman also revealing that Harry Maguire is available despite a fitness scare in the Community Shield against Manchester City last weekend.
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Ten Hag opens up on Shaw absence
However, Man United revealed earlier this week that Luke Shaw had picked up a calf issue, with the left-back set to be missing in the early weeks of the new season.
“I think he will return in the short term, it doesn’t take long,” Ten Hag said when asked about the England international, who featured for his country in the latter stages of this summer’s European Championship.
“We are looking forward of course, Luke Shaw is a very important player for our team. He is massively important so we want to get him back as soon as possible but we can’t force this process.”
Rasmus Hojlund, Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia will also be absent for Man United’s opening match of the new season against Fulham, but Ten Hag has insisted that he will still be able to name a strong side.
“The issues are there, but it’s not about the players who are not available. Like I said last season, it’s about the players who are available and we have a good group,” he said.
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Ten Hag focuses on available players amid injury issues
“We can make a strong selection, we can put out a strong team, so we will do.”
Ten Hag also said that he is in a confident mood ahead of the new season, with the Dutchman looking to deliver more trophies in 2024-25.
“We know our targets, we know that we are in the right direction, we know we have won two trophies, we know our game model, so now we have to integrate the new players and if they can improve the game model and improve the team levels. And take it from there. I have always very high expectations but we want to go for trophies,” added the Dutchman.
Man United finished eighth in last season’s Premier League, but they won the FA Cup at the end of May to secure a spot in the group stage of the 2024-25 Europa League.
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