United View: Ten Hag calls for standards after Rosenborg loss

Erik ten Hag didn’t hold back in his post-match assessment of his side following a loss in their first preseason game of the season in Norway, saying the performance was ‘below standard’.

United lost 1-0 to Eliteserien outfit Rosenborg on Monday and while some would write this off as a throwaway result at the beginning of preseason, but the manager was quick to send a message out to his squad that there are standards at Manchester United, regardless of competition.

Rosenborg are 11th in the top division of Norwegian football, currently in the middle of their regular season, and as to be expected had much better levels of game fitness. Something which ten Hag acknowledged but didn’t want to use as an excuse, saying “of course we play preseason but at Manchester united there are standards you win games and definitely don’t lose games”.

Even though many of the squad were unavailable due to their international commitments over the summer, there were still someone big names in United’s lineup, including Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and Aaron Wan Bissaka. Yet it was young goalkeeper Radek Vitek who was the standout. The 20-year-old who spent the second half of last season on loan at Accrington Stanley making several vital saves before conceding in the final minutes.

After such a woeful season of football, the manager will be keen to get off to a good start in the upcoming campaign and implement the levels he expects of the football club. And under the new ownership of INEOS, his performance as manager could well be questioned if results aren’t positive.

Ten Hag was positive about the arrival of Ruud Van Nistelrooy into the coaching team, saying the former United striker will ‘help the team’ and ‘help individual players’. The Dutchman arrived with another new assistant manager Rene Hake last week.

The Reds next take on Rangers on Saturday. Undoubtedly the manager will expect to see more from his side, as he still is yet to announce the side that will travel to the US as part of United’s 2024 preseason season tour.

New signing Joshua Zirkzee will not be present for that fixture as he too is on holiday after representing Holland at the European Championships, coming on as a substitute in the final moments of England’s Semi Final loss against England.

One player who could very well make the trip is Jadon Sancho, who has also returned to training following the ending of his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, where they reached the final of the Champions League. Erik ten Hag and Sancho had a public dispute but looks like the two are to move on following positive words from the manager.

Whether or not Sancho will actually start the season is unforeseen, and while look like they are willing to work together for now, it’ll be interesting to see how the manager utilises the forward. The 24-year-old has also attracted interest from Europe however nothing has yet to materialise in any way.

Finally, Mason Greenwood is set to be sold to French side Marseille for around £26million along with a majority share of any future sale for the Englishman. The 22-year-old made 129 appearances for the club before being arrested for attempted rape, assault and coercive control in January 2022.