Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has delivered a message to youngsters ahead of their first pre-season game against Liverpool on Tuesday. The 52-year-old has warned it will be no easy task to break into the first team, insisting the youngsters have to deserve their position. The Red Devils named several academy graduates in the […]
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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has delivered a message to youngsters ahead of their first pre-season game against Liverpool on Tuesday.
The 52-year-old has warned it will be no easy task to break into the first team, insisting the youngsters have to deserve their position.
The Red Devils named several academy graduates in the 31-man squad for the pre-season that is set to kick off on 12 July in Bangkok.
Zidane Iqbal, Charlie Savage and Alejandro Garnacho have been included in the squad.
Ethan Laird, Matej Kovar, Nathan Bishop, Amad Diallo, Facundo Pellistri and James Garner were also part of the group that flew to Thailand on Friday.
In an interview with MUTV, ten Hag delivered a clear message to all these players.
“What I want to see is that they learn but also they show themselves because they have to deserve a position in top football,” he said.
“You have to deserve your position. It means you have to deliver every day, that demands a certain style, a certain way of life that they have to adapt to, that they probably don’t know yet.
“But I am really looking forward to seeing if they can do it. I hope one or two, they can prove themselves and they come into the squad but, if they want to enter the dressing room, they have to deserve it.”
Opportunity for youngsters
United have already secured the services of Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord, while Christian Eriksen is close to completing a move to Old Trafford.
However, they have yet to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona, who is reportedly their top transfer target this summer.
United have also been linked with Lisandro Martinez and Brian Brobbey, but they might not be able to land all their key targets this summer.
This means ten Hag will need to rely on some of the academy graduates this season.
Several promising youngsters are quite capable of breaking into the first team and the pre-season will present a big opportunity for them to impress the Dutch manager.
Amad Diallo failed to make an impact at Rangers during his loan spell last season, but the 19-year-old is expected to be an important figure at Old Trafford in the future. The club splashed a hefty sum to sign him from Atalanta.
Facundo Pellistri has returned from an underwhelming loan spell at Alaves and will be raring to prove his abilities this month.
Meanwhile, James Garner played a key role in helping Nottingham Forest reach the Premier League last season. He is another promising player who can make it to the first team.
The other youngsters also have huge potential, but it remains to be seen who ten Hag decides to include next term.
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