Erik ten Hag: Man Utd boss urges club to ‘strike’ in January transfer window if opportunity arises before Deadline Day | Football News

Erik ten Tag has urged Manchester United to “go on strike” in the remaining days of the January transfer window if the opportunity arises.

The market for buying and selling players closed at 11pm on Tuesday with United only adding goalkeeper Jack Butland and striker Wout Weghorst on loan until the end of the season.

With just four days until the window closes, Ten Hag believes the club “must do” if there is a chance to make his signature and has identified areas of the squad that need to be strengthened.

“In the days to come, if we have the opportunity, I will get it, but not just for me. I think that should be the approach at this club,” he said.

“Every day you have to get better so that if there is an opportunity to get better, you have to strike, that’s my approach. I look, I do research, I have ideas and I have a profile to strengthen the squad.”

United sit fourth in the Premier League and will reach the Carabao Cup final with Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at home to Reading, plus a Europa League play-off against Barcelona next month amid a busy schedule. will see him play nine games in the next 30 days.

Asked if he thought United’s struggles in four quarters showed they were ahead of schedule with the progress they had made this season, Ten Hag said: “It’s good and that’s why we need all the players in our squad to develop. But especially for get the right result. We want to stay in the competition as much as possible. We have to fight and I think that is good for the development of the club.

“If we get ahead of the process, I don’t know. Every day we have to give our maximum, we have to approach the good is not enough, we have to do better to keep moving forward. There will be no end. we have to approach like that. If you progress or not in the process, it doesn’t matter where we are now. We want to win every game, no matter the opponent.”

Marcus Rashford has been a symbol of the progress United are making at the Ten Hag. The England forward rediscovered his form to earn a World Cup call-up before scoring 10 goals in 10 games since the restart, but the Ten Hag remained humble when asked how he got the best out of Rashford.

“I’m not Harry Potter!” said. “It’s confidence, every player has to create and earn their own confidence. They struggle.

“With the coaching staff, we bring structure, especially in the way they play. We give them some routines for what they need to get in the right position, but in the end it’s up to them.

“When the players have confidence, then I believe with the way of work, the environment and the culture are also important, the players can perform well.

“Obviously Marcus at this point is very good, very good, from day to day, training to training, game to game, more routine.

“The front line also gives us a positive feeling and is getting stronger. Then we can benefit more from each other. In the first season, we had a lot of problems in the front line. Often we have games where we don’t have players who are 100 percent physically and mentally healthy. Now I think more.”

Man Utd match stacks up

Saturday 28 January: Man Utd vs Reading – FA Cup fourth round8 p.m

Wednesday 1 February: Man Utd vs Nottingham Forest – Carabao Cup semi-final second leglife goes on Sky Sports; at 8 p.m

Saturday 4 February: Man Utd vs Crystal Palace3 p.m

Wednesday February 8: Man Utd vs Leeds8 p.m

Sunday 12 February: Leeds vs Man Utdlife goes on Sky Sports; 2 p.m

Thursday 16 February: Barcelona vs Man Utd – Europa League play-offs, 5.45 pm

Sunday 19 February: Man Utd vs Leicesterlife goes on Sky Sports; 2 p.m

Thursday 23 February: Man Utd vs Barcelona – Europa League play-offs8 p.m

Sunday 26 February: Man Utd vs Brentford1.30 p.m