Ten Hag cautions Manchester United fans of potential slow start to new season

Manchester United faces tough opening against Manchester City in Community Shield

Erik ten Hag has warned that Manchester United could face a slow start to the new season as they prepare to take on Manchester City in the Community Shield on Saturday.

The Red Devils will return to Wembley Stadium, where they defeated City in the FA Cup final back in May.

But, Ten Hag is concerned about the team’s readiness, especially with key players like Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, and Lisandro Martinez missing the pre-season tour due to international commitments.

Ten Hag emphasized the challenges of getting the squad up to speed particularly with players returning from different international competitions.

“We have to work on our game model to find the patterns,” Ten Hag said. “It was a break, they all played Euros, Copa America so they were in different teams, with different game models and different patterns. Now we have to bring this together.”

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Injury concerns add to Manchester United’s struggles

The Dutch manager also faces a mounting injury crisis with new signings Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund set to miss the start of the season.

Moreover, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are all doubtful for the clash against City leaving Ten Hag with limited options in defense.

Despite these challenges Ten Hag remains optimistic about United’s chances against their rivals. “We know already we can beat City,” he stated. “The FA Cup was a higher occasion than the game on Saturday. Nevertheless, we want to win but we showed on occasions we can beat City.”

As United prepare for the new campaign Ten Hag’s focus will be on managing the squad carefully to avoid long-term injuries and ensuring players are available to compete in the crucial early fixtures.