- Ten Hag believes that the club’s strategy to attract younger stars must involve patience
- He believes fans should trust his process amid ‘financial constraints’ for the club
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts!available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Erik ten Hag has appealed for patience at Manchester United due to the club’s dependence on younger players due to financial constraints.
Ten Hag is in the firing line against Tottenham today and has won only three of the seven games: against Fulham, Southampton and League One Barnsley.
However, the Dutchman insists his plan will take time as United are no longer in the market for established stars such as Casemiro and Raphael Varane.
The club this month posted a £113.2m loss for the 2023/24 season – their fifth consecutive deficit – to highlight the difficulty of complying with Premier League and UEFA rules.
“Where we are now with this team, but with all the limitations we had, we did a good job,” said ten Hag.
Erik ten Hag has called on Man United fans to be patient after a difficult start to his third season
United have won just three of seven games at the start of the season and the pressure is mounting
‘I understand the impression that many have for Manchester United because the history is so great, but we have chosen younger players and you cannot expect them to be at the level.
‘Those are choices we have made and it also has something to do with financial matters and other limitations that we face.
“We have to improve them (younger players) and they have to improve themselves and we have to find a team that can be successful on a consistent basis.”
None of United’s £35m outfield signings in recent years have been over 25, led by striker Rasmus Hojlund and teenage defender Leny Yoro.
In the past two years they bought Champions League winners Casemiro and Varane from Real Madrid for a combined £100 million, with little resale value.
Homegrown talent such as Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have also been included in the squad and when new signing 23-year-old Manuel Ugarte replaces Christian Eriksen this afternoon, the average age of United’s line-up will be the lowest of ten in Hag’s tenure.
Yet there is enormous pressure on the manager standing in the middle of the table.
He explained that the club’s policy of signing young players means fans ‘cannot expect success’
The club has suffered five consecutive financial losses, losing more than £600 million during the Dutchman’s reign, and the club are no longer looking to sign established stars.
“We have high goals and we want to achieve them for this season and the years to come,” he said.
“This team has shown over the past two years what they can do with patience. With patience we can win trophies and now we have to become more consistent.’