Manchester United started their preparation for the new season by playing their first preseason match of the summer.
The Red Devils decided to keep manager Erik ten Hag at the club over the summer and now they are waiting to see improvements from the manager and the players.
With the club hierarchy using their resources to provide the manager an opportunity to challenge for trophies next season, it is now the responsibility of the manager to prove himself next season.
The Red Devils suffered a surprise defeat against Roserborg after losing 1-0 due to a late winner.
The Premier League giants had some experienced players involved in the match including Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and Mason Mount.
The Dutch manager was critical of the fitness levels of his players after they suffered an embarrassing defeat.
The defeat against a team that is 11th in the Norwegian top flight angered the Man United manager.
He told Man United TV, as reported by the Independent:
“We can talk and make good on everything that was bad, but I am not that guy.”
“I have seen that this is not the standard for top football. In top football we have much higher standards, as an individual you must make sure you are fit. I know you cannot be match fit in this moment, so we need these games to get there. I know we are playing against players who are already going in their league, they have a much higher fitness level, but still we are Man United and players from Man United should perform better.”
Erik ten Hag has a difficult job ahead at Man United
The latest result should be an eye opener for the manager and the players about the task they have ahead of them.
Huge improvement is needed across all the positions to avoid another poor Premier League season.
The Red Devils finished eighth last season and a similar result would make it difficult or the manager and the players to survive at Old Trafford.
New signing Joshua Zirkzee’s arrival should come as a boost to the manager.
Leny Yoro could join Zirkzee soon at Old Trafford and become a part of a new look Man United team soon.
Not a promising start. I got so sick last season of “this cannot happen, we should do better, this is not our standard.” Sadly, this IS our standard at present and it wants sorted. Pronto.