Ronaldo, Maguire & De Jong: Erik ten Hag’s first preseason press conference
By Joel Edkins
Erik ten Hag has addressed the media for the first time during preseason as Manchester United manager following his appointment after interim coach Ralf Rangnick’s departure.
The Dutch manager sat down for a press conference ahead of his side’s first game of their preseason tour of Thailand and Australia.
United face Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Tuesday at 14:00 BST.
Supporters of the North-West club will have been hoping to catch a glimpse of a host of new talent recruited to provide the foundations for their new boss’ rebuild, but no such hope has come to fruition.
Full-back Tyrell Malacia is the only new signing guaranteed to play – subject to availability fitness-wise – after completing his switch from Feyenoord earlier in the transfer window.
Former Brentford midfielder and now free agent Christian Eriksen is expected to complete his switch to Old Trafford in the coming week. Higher-ups at United are hopeful the Danish international will join up with his new teammates for the Australia leg of the tour, as per Manchester Evening News.
The key issues ahead of ten Hag’s opening press conference were the future of unsettled talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, Frenkie de Jong’s proposed transfer and the matter of his captain for his maiden campaign in charge.
💬 "Any game against Liverpool is always exciting," says Erik.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 11, 2022
"We're looking forward to it — it will be a good test for us. The standard of Manchester United is to win every game so we'll start with that in our minds." ✊#MUFC || #MUTOUR22 pic.twitter.com/1NJMHS30w4