Ten Hag: My players have to be brave and willing to have the ball

The Manchester United squad flew out to Thailand this week to start the pre-season tour, with the first game taking place in Bangkok against Liverpool on Tuesday.

Before jetting off, new manager Erik ten Hag gave an interview with the official site to discuss what his start to life at the club has been like and what his plans are going forward.

You really are looking forward to that point when you first meet everyone around Carrington, who all take care of the players but, finally, to have the players on the pitch who have to bring the results. Of course, I’ve been looking forward to that point, to meet them, go to the pitch with them, to work with them, to coach them, so it was a real pleasure.

I want to bring the energy in my team, but I must say, the players do really well. They are really focused. They bring, for themselves, the energy. You see they enjoy playing football. They enjoy playing football together and they really work well together.

We want to play a proactive style of football – on the ball and off the ball. That is, trying to do that has to be our intentions and it’s now, firstly, the coaches bring it over to the team that we are, in every situation, proactive. We are brave and willing to have the ball, to give each other options. But also off the ball, to get the pressing style is what we’re working for together.

Despite an atrocious campaign last season, United have only signed one player for the start of pre-season, bringing in Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord. Ten Hag spoke about why the left-back was on his list of desired targets.

He’s a player, so I think he’s the modern left-back or full-back. He suits the profile and most important is, from every full-back, that he closes the right area, but he can also take part in the offensive side of our game, and he can do that really well. And I think he will really contribute to the team.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant, Steve McClaren, has returned to club with Ten Hag, as well as Mitchell van der Gaag joining him from Ajax, and Ten Hag reckons McClaren’s previous experience of United will help him.

Of course, and that is also a part of the reason I really wanted him. Of course, he has other competences and capabilities but the fact that he knows the club, I think, is a big advantage for us. Although it was a long time ago, he still knows the culture of Manchester United.

I think, both Steve McClaren and him [Van der Gaag], he is a coach from the moment he was born. Mitchell van der Gaag also had a lot of experience. First, as a player, he played many games in the highest levels in different leagues and, after that, he became coach, also in different countries, at different levels. So, he gained a lot of experience and most important for these two is they know how to win because they proved it in the past.