MX23RW : Saturday, December 28 23:46:14| >> :120:8403:8403:

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:collect4125:
Written by
Matt Law

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 match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool17133140172342
2Arsenal18106235161936
3Chelsea18105338211735
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1810442419534
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle188553021929
6Bournemouth188552721629
7Manchester CityMan City188463026428
8Fulham187742623328
9Aston Villa188462629-328
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton186842726126
11Brentford187383232024
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1872939261323
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham186572330-723
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd186482124-322
15Everton173861522-717
16Crystal Palace183871826-817
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1843112940-1115
18Leicester CityLeicester1835102240-1814
19Ipswich TownIpswich1826101633-1712
20Southampton1813141137-266


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!