The Dutchman delivered what is perhaps his last press conference as United boss ahead of his do-or-die game at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon (14:00 BST kickoff).
Talking about time, we've seen little of new signing Manuel Ugarte in a United shirt. Erik ten Hag provides a reason for this. "We have to integrate them like Manuel Ugarte. He needs time. I know in top football you don’t get time."
He adds on Ugarte that performing right away is not always realistic and that "he has to get used to our game model." ten Hag sites the Uruguayan saying that he also has to get accustomed to his team-mates and the Premier League in general.
ten Hag spoke about Diogo Dalot playing at left-back and that for how the manager wants to play, he prefers Dalot there despite Mazraoui being able to play in that position as well. He does admite that the team "will improve as a team when we get a consistent left-footed left-back." That's when he believes that the team's consistency levels will improve.
On the mentality, ten Hag says that there is a range consisting of multiple topics to discuss but that "the team has the belief, they don't give up." In this area, the manager feels that his team have a strong mentality but do need to improve in other parts.
He also spoke about Mainoo and the fact that it was risky to have him in the squad against Porto after having being taken off in the loss to Spurs last Sunday. There is a waiting period to see whether the midfielder will be ready for Sunday or not.
ten Hag was happy to see the return of Rasmus Hojlund and that he had a good game. "We couldn't play him in the first two months of the season."
Quotes via The United Stand on X.
Final Thoughts
I don't understand the whole Ugarte needs time to integrate into the side thing. Who's playing ahead of him isn't great (Casemiro) and we spent all transfer window and spent £50m on him only for the manager to not select him.
This is where ten Hag is very contradictory to me. He threw all of Martinez, Eriksen, Antony, Mazraoui and others straight away without that embedding period and never having played in the PL with some players.
We need Ugarte in the team because we just do. His performances so far haven't been great but being inconsistent with putting him into the team won't make it easier for him to get accustomed to everything.
I don't even know what to say about what he said about mentality. I feel like it's just words at the moment and even still, it makes no sense. Our mentality is shite. That's why we're in the position we're in.
As for the left-back, we're starting to see just how out of his depth Diogo Dalot is in that position.
We do need a left-back, any left-back, someone who knows what they're doing in that position. Why this spot was neglected when it came to doing business in the transfer window is a mystery.
Of course we'll be better with a left-back. Luke Shaw is always good whenever he plays and does improve us tenfold. He makes a massive difference down the left and improves Rashford as well.
We desperate for a left-back.
The way he speaks about Rasmus as well makes me think he was desperate for him to be in his side. ten Hag is always very appreciative of Hojlund and discusses how he wasn't available for two months. I think he really wanted this guy to be in his team.
We can see the difference he makes as he is clinical. Give him a decent chance and he will score.
Background Image: Manuel Ugarte and Erik ten Hag | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)