Erik ten Hag hopes his efforts and attention to detail throughout the mid-season break will help boost Manchester United’s chances of securing a top-four finish and a trophy.
United, who returned to action following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, beat Championship side Burnley 2-0 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night and will resume their quest for a top-four spot when they host Nottingham Forest on the 27th of December.
Ten Hag’s Red Devils currently sit in the fifth position in the English top-flight table, three points behind Spurs.
However, the Man United coach has boldly claimed he is keen to build a team that can challenge for big honours.
When asked how tough the mid-season break was, Ten Hag answered: "It was. We had a plan on how to do it, and how to manage the load on the players.
"It's all individual-based, no one is the same, no one had the same programme or minutes, and they play in different positions and are different ages. We tried to give everyone a plan, but we all know the restart is five or six days after the World Cup final.
"The Premier League resumes really quickly so everyone has to be ready for that, the manager, coaching staff, and players have to accept that.
"We want trophies, we want to have a strong team to battle for trophies. We have to adapt, do it smartly, and hopefully, we can perform and get the right results.”
United's advancement in the Carabao Cup has boosted Ten Hag's chances of ending the club's five-year trophy drought. The last time they won a trophy was under Jose Mourinho back in 2017.
"We are aware the competition is tough, but it counts for all the seven, eight clubs fighting for the top four," Ten Hag said.
"For all those that watch the Premier League, it is great because it will be exciting. You have to battle for every duel to get your points.
"I am looking at the process, how we are performing - we have to get results - but if we make the right progress, we have a good chance to get into the top four.
"I accept it [the pressure] how it is. But also, for the manager of Chelsea, and Newcastle United, all those clubs invested a lot in their squads as well.
"For every manager, it is a big pressure to get into the Champions League. You want to be in the top four, you want to fight for trophies. That is our aim, that is clear."
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