Erik ten Hag reveals which Manchester United players he’s ‘concerned’ about amid World Cup break
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted he is concerned for the players who don’t feature at the World Cup in Qatar due to the potential drop off in focus.
The Reds will be without a number of their first-team players during the upcoming tournament, with 15 players at present having been picked to represent their country.
While Ten Hag is excited to watch his United players in action at the World Cup, he has suggested that it is “strange” to have it in the middle of the season, while also insisting that there could be consequences for the players who travel but don’t actually feature in the tournament.
United will face off against Spanish opposition in Cadiz and Real Betis during the mid-season break, and the players who have not been called up to represent their countries will be hard at work on the training pitch.
“It is a little bit strange in the middle of the season, as you are also thinking about your own team and Manchester United and what are the consequences for them. How, after this break, how do you continue?” Ten Hag told club media.
“Normally, it is in the summer and you have a long pre-season break after the break after the summer holiday. In pre-season, you then continue, but here on the 27th [December], or even before the 27th, then we will play the Carabao Cup, maybe four or five days after the final of the World Cup. It is a little bit weird.”
When asked how he envisages United as a squad when domestic football resumed, Ten Hag added: “‘That there is a big question mark because no one knows. I am happy that a lot of our players are involved because it means we have good players. Also, they will be playing games hopefully and the ones who play the games will come back fit and that they are ready to play.
“I think it is a disadvantage for teams who don’t have many players at the World Cup because they have to play friendlies, and friendlies are different to real games. I am most concerned for the players who are in the squad but don’t play, because they don’t have friendlies and they only have training for substitutes and they can drop off in fitness.
“They can drop off in focus and maybe also they could come back in a different mental health space which is another question and concern. That is what we have to manage so I am looking forward as it is what follows, but there could be consequences with the games.”
United face an intense period before the new year, with three matches in 11 days, including a Carabao Cup clash with Burnley on December 20.
