Erik ten Hag warns Man United are ‘NOT ready’ for the new Premier League campaign ahead of Fulham opener – as he insists they must ‘deal with it’ after the club’s ‘complicated’ pre-season

Erik ten Hag claims Manchester United are ‘not ready yet’ for the new season despite opening the campaign at Old Trafford on Friday night.

Ten Hag made the astonishing admission ahead of the match against Fulham, but warned his players that they cannot avoid the spotlight.

“The team is not ready,” Ten Hag admitted. “But the competition is starting. We can’t hide from it. We have to deal with it.”

Many of Ten Hag’s squad played deep into the Copa America and the 2024 European Championship and missed most, if not all, of the pre-season preparation in the United States.

That means he has only had a few training sessions with the full squad, which is a concern.

Ten Hag regretted his ‘complicated’ preparations for the new season

“It’s very complicated,” he added.

‘[We had] ‘The selection from the American tour and then we added the players from the European Championship and the Copa America and now the new players and we have to make a team from that.’

Ten Hag announced on Thursday that he wants to throw Manchester United’s latest signings in at the deep end. Both Matthjis de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will make their debut against Fulham on Friday.

Earlier this week, United confirmed the £60million double signing of Bayern Munich duo De Ligt and Mazraoui.

Despite having only had a few training sessions with their new team-mates, Ten Hag is not worried about fielding them for the Premier League season opener at Old Trafford.

“There are problems,” Ten Hag explained. “But it’s not about the players who are not available. Just like last season, it’s about the players who are available.

“We have a good group, we can make a strong selection and we can field a strong team and we will do that. They will be in the selection and Harry Maguire will be in the selection as well.”

Luke Shaw will not play against Fulham due to injury, but Ten Hag allayed fears of another lengthy absence by saying the England left-back will be out for a ‘short period’ and that it ‘won’t be long’.

Martthijs de Ligt (middle left) and Noussair Mazraoui (middle right) both joined from Bayern

Man United will be looking to take revenge for last season’s loss to Fulham on the opening day

But Shaw’s absence, combined with Tyrell Malacia, who played no part at all last season and was therefore sidelined, will likely see Mazraoui thrust straight into the spotlight.

The 26-year-old right-back Mazraoui, who can also play as a left-back, has signed for a transfer fee of £12.8 million (€15 million), plus a possible £4.27 million (€5 million) in add-ons. The transfer runs until June 2028.

It is not so much the player’s versatility that appeals to Ten Hag, but his temperament.

“In English football there is always pressure on the ball and one of his main qualities is that he is difficult to put under pressure,” the United manager explained.

‘We can solve problems on the left, with Licha Martinez for example and Diogo Dalot can play there. Noussar can also fill the position.’