Manchester United's Ten Hag on Forest, player fitness and Jim Ratcliffe investment (Full Presser)

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Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag on facing Nottingham Forest under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, the fitness of key players and Jim Ratcliffe's investment in the club

Transcript

00:00 Hi Eric, you're facing a Nottingham Forest side that are looking a bit different now under Nuno Espirito Santo.

00:06 What are you expecting from them and will you have any players back available that were unavailable for the last match?

00:11 To start with at last, I don't think so.

00:17 So it will be a similar squad as we have had against Villa.

00:22 Yeah, you see with them, you see the reaction when new managers coming in.

00:30 You see the spirit.

00:31 We have to be ready for that.

00:34 It's always about us.

00:36 But be aware of it.

00:38 Be aware that they have the right spirit.

00:41 And of course they build the confidence.

00:43 But that is what we did as well.

00:47 So we have to continue in the performance.

00:53 Obviously the matches are coming thick and fast right now.

00:57 There is a lot of talk outside about the impact and influence of Ineos after their investment was announced.

01:03 Have you spoken to anyone at Ineos yet and have you got any plans to if you haven't?

01:08 As you said, the schedule is so condensed.

01:13 So I didn't have the time so far to speak with them.

01:17 But it will come and I look forward.

01:20 They want to work with me.

01:23 I want to work with them.

01:25 And we will have the conversations, the meetings.

01:28 And so we will see.

01:30 Are you expecting them to be regular presences here?

01:36 Will they be across your work on a day-to-day basis?

01:40 So listen, I'm focused on the game so far.

01:46 So I said no, at this moment I don't want to have distractions.

01:51 But in the coming days, weeks, there will be time for this.

01:57 And then I know more.

01:58 But I think it's a good thing.

02:00 It's very positive.

02:02 And as I said, we are really looking forward to work together.

02:05 Ineos wants to work with me, with this infrastructure.

02:12 And I want to work with them.

02:14 Can I just ask you about Andre Naller?

02:17 He has been picked in the large Cameroon squad.

02:22 We expect him to be picked in the main squad.

02:25 They have a training camp next week.

02:28 Will tomorrow's game be his last game?

02:31 Or are you trying to make him available for Wigan?

02:34 What is the situation there?

02:36 The situation is that we will be talking.

02:39 We have good relationships with all the federations.

02:42 It's about Souf, it's about Hannibal, it's about Andre.

02:46 So we're talking with them.

02:47 Where do you expect to have Casemiro and Mason Mount?

02:54 I think in mid-January we expect many players back.

03:00 Mason, Casemiro, Martínez, Malasia.

03:07 We expect Harry McGuire, of course.

03:11 We expect many players to return in January.

03:17 Can I ask about the comeback against Aston Villa?

03:20 Obviously Manchester United performance is always heavily scrutinised.

03:24 But for you, did that feel like a benchmark kind of performance going forward?

03:31 And also, how do you get that consistency now in your results?

03:33 Also, that's about us.

03:36 So we proved, despite all the setbacks,

03:41 and I think not any team can deal with so many setbacks we have had.

03:48 And so the number of points, we have to...

03:51 We are not satisfied, because we are not satisfied.

03:57 But you have to be pleased with the number of points.

04:02 When we have all the players back, this squad is strong.

04:06 And we proved it against Arsenal, against Liverpool,

04:10 against Villa, the number one, two, three from the league.

04:14 We went head to head.

04:15 And we could have won all the games.

04:17 We didn't, but definitely the last game.

04:21 I think our sides have improved it.

04:25 We showed how hungry we are, determination,

04:30 so the right mentality, and then we can beat anyone.

04:33 Was it especially pleasing to produce that kind of performance

04:38 with Sir Dave Brailsford in the stands, obviously from Ineos?

04:42 Does that show, does that send a message to Ineos that it could be positive?

04:46 No, no.

04:48 We always want to win.

04:51 And it doesn't matter who's in the lead.

04:55 So we are appointed here to win.

04:59 So in this area, we need a winning culture,

05:03 no matter who is in the lead, no matter who is the owner.

05:08 But of course, owners can inspire you.

05:13 Eric, there have been a few times this season where Manchester United have got big results

05:18 and they've been described as a turning point.

05:20 Why is this victory against Villa different?

05:24 So it showed once again, this squad is strong.

05:32 And even when many players are not even on board,

05:37 and even then we can compete,

05:41 we go head to head with the strongest teams in this league.

05:47 So when the players are back, we can beat anyone.

05:51 If the mentality is right, and that's up to us,

05:54 we have to get consistency in.

05:56 What will that goal for Rasmus Hoyland do for his confidence?

06:00 And did you ever have any doubts that he would score in the Premier League?

06:03 But I have to repeat myself,

06:07 but I trust him.

06:10 I knew he could.

06:11 His goals in the Champions League for Denmark showed

06:14 what he did as a young player in Austria, in Italy.

06:17 And he's a very strong character.

06:20 But of course, this goal will give him confidence and belief

06:25 that he's going to score and he has to score more goals from this point on, I'm sure.

06:31 for you.

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