Manchester United face Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday in their Premier League season opener, with new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui set to make their debuts.
Despite the arrival of the two Dutch internationals from Bayern Munich, manager Erik ten Hag has admitted his side are not yet fully prepared for the new campaign. The Red Devils had a truncated pre-season, with players returning from international duty at the Euros and Copa America, as well as integrating new additions.
"It's a complicated situation," Ten Hag conceded at a press conference on Thursday. "We haven't had the usual five or six weeks to work on the team. It's not ideal."
Despite the challenges, Ten Hag is confident in his squad's ability to adapt quickly. "The league starts, and many managers are facing similar issues. We've got a strong foundation, and we must make a start. We can't hide; we have to deal with it."
One boost for United is the return of defender Harry Maguire, who missed England's Euro 2024 campaign due to injury. However, left-back Luke Shaw will be absent after struggling with a persistent hamstring injury that hampered his last season.
"Shaw will be back soon," Ten Hag confirmed. "He's a vital player for us, and we want him back as quickly as possible, but we won't rush his recovery."
With Shaw sidelined, Ten Hag confirmed that Mazraoui, Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot could fill in at left-back.
The 54-year-old manager has signed a new contract, keeping him at Old Trafford until 2026, after a season that saw United finish eighth in the Premier League but secure a surprise FA Cup triumph over Manchester City.
Ten Hag is optimistic about the season ahead. "We know our goals, and we know the direction we want to go in," he stated. "We're excited about integrating the new players and their potential to improve the team. Our expectations are always high; we want to win trophies."
With the new season kicking off, the Red Devils will be hoping for a strong start against Fulham, despite the logistical challenges that have hampered their pre-season preparations.
