Manchester United’s pre-season is over and Erik ten Hag’s focus will now be on ensuring a good start to the Premier League after a disappointing first two games last term.
United have experienced a mixed pre-season, winning four games, losing three and drawing the final run-out against Athletic Club on Sunday afternoon.
As they did last year, United made the decision to play two friendlies in as many days in the final week of preparations and Ten Hag approached the double-headers against RC Lens and Athletic Club similarly to last year.
The majority of his first-team regulars were in the team against Lens on Saturday, with the Dutchman expected to name a similar side in the Premier League curtain-raiser against Wolves in eight days.
The game against Athletic in Dublin was dominated by youngsters and fringe players but many will hope to have convinced the manager over their roles this season.
Speaking after his side rescued a draw in a dramatic 90-minute affair against Athletic, Ten Hag reflected on playing two games in as many days this late in pre-season, praising his side for their attitude despite going a goal behind in both games.
“In one weekend, two times we are losing but you see this team have character and that’s what you need in a season as well,” he is quoted as saying by the official Manchester United website.
“Sometimes you are down and then you have to show resilience and especially in such moments you need determination.
“We have shown that this weekend, it was a good weekend for us. Yesterday I thought it was a very good level, today I have seen also very good spells.
“I think the start of the game was also very good and we should have scored a goal to go up, because it was a great chance from Jadon Sancho.
“We had some good moments after that as well and it was stupid how we went down but as I said, we had a result and we came back so it was a good weekend for us.”
Ten Hag will be delighted with the personnel at his disposal going into the season after landing all three of his prime targets, with Mason Mount and Andre Onana even taking part in pre-season.
Rasmus Hojlund, the latest addition to the squad, will lead the line for most of the season but he is not currently available for selection due to an injury sustained with Atalanta earlier this summer.
