Erik ten Hag has backed Marcus Rashford to get back to his best, and he believes new assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy can play a key role in that.
Former Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy has returned to the club to join Ten Hag’s staff and unlock the full potential of players like Rashford, who scored 17 Premier League goals in 2022/23 but only managed seven last season.
“That is a reason why he (Van Nistelrooy) is here, but not only for the strikers,” Ten Hag told the club's official website as Man Utd prepare to face Arsenal on Sunday during their pre-season tour of the US. “He is much more than this.
“But Rashford can only prove himself, and he is capable of it. He has scored so many goals already at a relatively young age. So, he’s capable of it. So I’m confident and 100 per cent believe he can do the same as two years ago.”
In addition to getting the best out of his existing players, Ten Hag is aiming to improve Man Utd’s squad depth with more signings, following the arrivals of forward Joshua Zirkzee and centre-back Leny Yoro.
“I just want a squad that is strong as possible,” said Ten Hag. “We have already had two very good buys, so when everyone is fit, we have a team who can beat everyone, but also in the squad depth, we have to catch up.
“We know that because we had injuries and we are vulnerable and we have to avoid this by firstly getting less injuries, picking up less injuries. And secondly, our squad has to be good in its depth.
“Of course, we have the quality, but in the depth, now we have to catch up and and even more because this season will be the survival of the fittest.”
Mount offers valuable versatility
Mason Mount’s return to fitness will help in that regard, with the midfielder being virtually like a new signing after managing only five starts last season.
“You can’t judge [his first] season because he was injured,” said Ten Hag. “But when he is fit, he will be a very good player for us and we can use him. He’s versatile and you need that in a squad.
“You need certain types in the squad, like you need the leaders, you need the team players. You need individuals, multi-functional players. And yeah, definitely he is one of those players. He can play in several positions and I’m sure he will help the team.”
Ten Hag and his staff are also aiming to reduce the injury list this season, although the Dutchman admits that is easier said than done.
“The amount of games the fixture list had, the load on the players, the pressure on the players is so high,” he said. “And we are not the only team with so many injuries. We were not even the worst.
“What we had there was our bad luck. We had them all in the end of the season in the back four. And of course that cost us a lot of points, but the load on and the pressure on players is so immense. And this season it's getting even worse because of the new model, the new format in Europe.
See: Key quotes from Ten Hag's press conference
“It will happen again. I just mentioned it is the survival of the fittest. So one of the things so important in your structures is that you cover that, that fitness part with the medical staff, with performance and that you have to get things right. But also the players, they have to work in the right way because when the standards are so high then you have to fulfil them.
“We already made our decisions and we appointed a new club doctor last season. And actually he started late in the season but now he can start this one in the lead. And we appointed a new head physio. So we have made changes there.
“We also changed strategies in medical and performance to improve, but I think that is normal in nowadays football. The developments are so fast and every time you have to innovate, and if you want to be the best you also need the best in those departments.”
