Ten Hag on Hojlund and Mount fitness, Antony and Rashford form and Palace challenge (Full Presser)

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Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag on the fitness of Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount, the form of Antony and Marcus Rashford and the challenge of facing Crystal Palace Carrington, Manchester, UK

Transcript

00:00Hi Eric, we've seen pictures this week of Rasmus Hoyland and Mason Mount in training,

00:06will they be fit to start at Crystal Palace?

00:09It's very good news, they're back on the pitch, they're back in team training,

00:14and we have to decide whether they are fit enough to start,

00:19but I think it's very pleasing, they're back with the squad,

00:23we have so many games also in this block to cover, so very happy.

00:28Back involved, do you think they will be involved in any capacity?

00:33We have to make the final call, and they did a couple of training,

00:38we have to see how they recover, and then tomorrow we will make a final call.

00:43The last time you went to Crystal Palace, it didn't end particularly well,

00:49it's not that long ago, what lessons do you think you as a management team

00:55and the players have learned from that experience?

00:58Not in particular, we know what will come through,

01:02it's always tough there, it's always aggressive there,

01:06but we know also the circumstances, and you can't compare this,

01:10we didn't have a fit squad, we had even one or two players

01:16that were maybe up to 20% to play, but we had to play them,

01:20and this time is totally different, we have now a fit squad,

01:24we have definitely 18 players who are capable to go into this good challenge for us.

01:32So it's not the kind of experience you keep at the back of your mind to think,

01:36that's never going to happen again to me?

01:38No, definitely not, it was clear, it was a 4-0,

01:44totally deserved, but Saturday will be different.

01:48Erik, how much joy does it give you to see Marcus Rashford back,

01:53as he's threatening himself, full of confidence, trying to take on Marcus,

01:57and obviously getting the goals then as a reward?

02:00It's very good, of course, and that your striker,

02:05that they're starting to score when the season is very young,

02:09strikers need that belief, and we have now a couple of players

02:14who are in the meanwhile on the scoring list,

02:18and that is very good for a team, because that will strengthen their belief,

02:22and they will call up for more, and they will score more goals now.

02:28Erik, you mentioned about Hoyland and Mount,

02:31in their time at United they both had a few injuries,

02:34how much do they need a run, a run of fitness really,

02:38and therefore you've got to be a little bit careful?

02:42Careful in top football, you always go to boundaries,

02:46so it's not avoidable, but when you have a full squad available,

02:52then it's more easy to manage the load,

02:55and when you are in circumstances like last season,

02:58and there's a need to play, and then also you have to overload them,

03:02so we hope we can integrate them in a very careful way.

03:09Since the game we were talking about at Crystal Palace in May,

03:13how much progress do you feel has been made with the squad overall,

03:17and the team, how different will this United be

03:20to the one that ran out at Sellers Park in May?

03:22Maybe you can also compare it with the FA Cup final,

03:25I don't compare it, and because of the circumstances,

03:28in that moment in the season, I would say from February on,

03:32we had to find 11 players who can construct a team,

03:40and now we are in a different place,

03:42we have 18 players and we can pick a team.

03:48Eric, there was a lot of talk of Anthony before the game on Tuesday,

03:51is that the reaction that you wanted from him,

03:54to see the way he performed?

03:57I think every player should give those reactions,

04:02you have to train hard, you have to perform in training,

04:09you have to earn the right to play,

04:12and when the moment is your chance, you have to take it,

04:18but the manager can only pick 11 players,

04:21and then he can make five subs,

04:23so make sure you are under those 16 players for every game,

04:28and you do it on a consistent base,

04:32perform in training, and of course that's the most important,

04:36when the chance is there, you have to perform in the game,

04:40and you have to contribute to a winning team.

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