West News Wire: Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, acknowledges that the squad’s caliber is insufficient and declares that the team “needs quality players.”
United lost 4-0 against Brentford and now has no points after two Premier League games after giving up four goals in the opening 35 minutes.
The scenario is a “tough process,” Old Trafford manager Ten Hag of the Netherlands told Sky Sports in May.
He declared, “We must set greater standards than what we did today.
“We are, as a team, in a difficult process. You expect a different start. It’s not what we expected.
“We need new players. We need quality players. We are working on that and we’ll do everything to convince them to come.”
United have been involved in a long-running hunt for fresh recruits since the transfer window opened, following a disappointing campaign last year and a shock defeat at home to Brighton last Sunday.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been the main target for Ten Hag but the 25-year-old has reportedly indicated he would prefer to join Chelsea if he left the Nou Camp.
A move for former Stoke and West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic attracted negative reaction from fans and was abandoned, as did interest in Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot a transfer that appears close, despite significant disapproval from United’s support.
“The team has to take responsibility. I feel really sorry for the fans they did everything to support us but we let them down,” said Ten Hag.
“You have to take responsibility on the pitch as a team and as individuals, that’s what we didn’t do. What I asked them to do is play with belief and take responsibility for the performance. We have to work on that.
“The manager is responsible as well. He has the main responsibility and I’ll take that and work on that.”
