Before Saturday’s match against Brentford at 17:30 BST at the Gtech Community Stadium, Erik ten Hag addressed the club media and reporters early on Friday afternoon.
Following last Sunday’s unexpected 2-1 home loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, United is seeking to pick up our first points of the new Premier League campaign.
Injury prevented Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof from playing against the Seagulls, but they were both at Old Trafford to witness the game with the other Reds who were left out of the 20-man matchday squad from the director’s box.
The first of seven away games we’ll play in London during the 2022–23 season, Ten Hag has sadly informed us that neither player will be fully prepared for our trip to the city.
“It’s still the same,” he told club reporter Stewart Gardner when asked if there was any changes in regards to the players who are available for this weekend.
Christian Eriksen started against the Seagulls as a false nine, but United notably improved when he dropped deeper and Cristiano Ronaldo was introduced as a more traditional forward option on 52 minutes.
Before that game, Ten Hag said Ronaldo was still building fitness after his shorter pre-season, but the Dutchman believes our no.7 has had a strong week of working at Carrington and could be in contention to feature for longer in London.
“So, he had a good training week, I thought he played a little bit longer than half an hour [against Brighton], I would say he now has two half a games,” Ten Hag told reporters later, at his pre-match press conference.
“The starting XI, we will see tomorrow. I, of course, have made my decision but I [will] keep it.”
United’s squad benefited from a behind-closed-door friendly earlier this week and Ten Hag feels he needs two players in each position who are fully fit and raring to go as we move forward this season.
“I don’t like them being behind closed doors but it was behind and we needed all the players to get the minutes in the legs,” added Erik, in our exclusive interview which you can watch in full on Saturday morning.
“Of course it’s best to get that in the league, but we have a squad and we need the squad.
“We need double positions and of course they can also show their capabilities to me and to the team, and get to the right fitness levels and work hard. That’s the most important thing.”
NEWS FROM BRENTFORD’S TEAM
Mikkel Damsgaard, an international for Denmark, was signed by the Bees earlier this week. He is eligible to play on Saturday, though Thomas Frank has said he is not yet ready to start.
Damsgaard attracted attention at Euro 2020, but he played just 12 times for Sampdoria and missed most of the previous season due to injury.
Due to a knee injury, defender Ethan Pinnock will be out for an unknown amount of time. Sergi Canos and midfielders Kristoffer Ajer are also questionable due to hamstring problems.
“There isn’t really a good time to play Manchester United, according to Frank. They will be the favorites without a doubt. They can’t afford to drop tomorrow’s game to us. I really believe we can prevail.”
