MX23RW : Wednesday, December 21 07:11:35| >> :120:23354:23354:

Erik ten Hag pleased with "good week" in Spain despite two defeats

Ten Hag pleased with
© Reuters
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag says that the Red Devils had "a good week" in Spain despite losing to Cadiz and Real Betis.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that the Red Devils had "a good week" in Spain despite losing their two mid-season friendlies to La Liga opposition.

The 20-time English champions suffered a 4-2 defeat to Cadiz in their first game on Wednesday before going down 1-0 to Real Betis on Saturday.

The majority of the squad that travelled to Spain were from the club's academy, with a number of first-team players missing due to the 2022 World Cup.

Ten Hag has admitted that he was unhappy with aspects of the performances against both Cadiz and Real Betis, but the Dutchman has taken the positives from the training camp.

Manchester United's Isak Hansen-Aaroen in action with Real Betis' Nabil Fekir on December 10, 2022© Reuters

"I think we had a good week, there was a good spirit. The lads worked really well, really hard. Our main objective from the week was better fitness and I think we did it, we made the progress there," Ten Hag told MUTV.

"Also, we integrated some young lads, integrated them in the way of play and the way of playing with intensity so they can step up. With some of them, I was quite happy, so that is a big win for the future.

"We made progression. As you've seen, we were again a really young team, they [Real Betis] had an experienced team.

"The first half was okay, I think we had some good attacks. We were better than in the game against Cadiz, also from the intensity, so I was quite happy with that first half.

"In the second half we made a bad start, [we were] undisciplined. It killed us against Cadiz and now again. We really have to step up."

Cadiz's Carlos Garcia in action with Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho in a mid-season friendly on December 7, 2022© Reuters

Man United will now switch their attention to their EFL Cup fourth-round contest with Burnley, which will take place at Old Trafford on December 21.

The 20-time English champions will then resume their Premier League campaign at home to Nottingham Forest on December 27.

Following the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, which saw Brazil, Netherlands, Portugal and England all eliminated, Man United now only have two players at the competition - Argentina's Lisandro Martinez and France's Raphael Varane.

Man United's last competitive match was on November 13, with Alejandro Garnacho scoring a last-gasp winner against Fulham in the Premier League.

ID:501722:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4676:

Click here for more stories about Erik ten Hag

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Harry Maguire in action for Manchester United on September 8, 2022
Read Next:
Maguire: 'I am under more scrutiny at Manchester United'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal14121133112237
2Manchester CityMan City14102240142632
3Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1586129111830
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs1592431211029
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd148242020026
6Liverpool1464428171122
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton146352319421
8Chelsea146351717021
9Fulham155462426-219
10Brentford154742325-219
11Crystal Palace145451518-319
12Aston Villa155371622-618
13Leicester CityLeicester155282525017
14Bournemouth154471832-1416
15Leeds UnitedLeeds144372226-415
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham154291217-514
17Everton153571117-614
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest153481130-1913
19Southampton153391327-1412
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves15249824-1610

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!