Erik Ten Hag hails three ‘amazing’ Manchester United youngsters who are the future of the club
Manchester United’s rising young talents Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, and Kobbie Mainoo have been lauded for their recent performances but have been cautioned by manager Erik ten Hag that they still have significant room for development.
The trio has been in impressive form lately, contributing eight goals collectively to propel United on a five-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. Despite their burgeoning potential, ten Hag emphasized the importance of maintaining hunger and continuously striving for improvement.
“I think they enjoy to play together. There is adventure. They are a danger. They want to do it together and to pass to each other so that everyone can play to their qualities and everyone can score goals,” ten Hag stated, highlighting their collaborative spirit and attacking prowess.
However, the Dutch manager stressed that development is an ongoing process, particularly for young players aiming to reach the pinnacle of the sport. He emphasized the need for consistency and elevated performances, especially against top-tier opponents, to meet the club’s ambitions of winning trophies.
Acknowledging the talent and potential of Garnacho, Hojlund, and Mainoo, ten Hag expressed confidence in their abilities but underscored the importance of continued growth and maturity. He emphasized the significance of time and patience in nurturing their talents while also highlighting the collective effort required from the team to support their progress.
” They are young players and the future for Manchester United is quite bright with such talent on board, ” Ten Hag continued.
“But you have to develop the talent and there is a lot of space for improvement and that is necessary if you want to go to the top levels. This club wants to achieve a lot, to win trophies. It is very ambitious so they then have to step up and bring higher levels and consistency. Also against the best opposition they have to express the same threat and it is about end product. Players need time, especially young players like Rasmus and Alejandro. They need time but also they need a team so those effects were not there in the first half of the season.”
He added: “From the start I was confident they have the potential to do what they are doing and now it is about keeping going, keep moving, be hungry.”
Hojlund has particularly stood out with five goals in his last six matches, showcasing his scoring prowess. Garnacho’s impact was evident with a brace against West Ham, while Mainoo announced himself with a crucial goal in the FA Cup victory against Newport and a late winner against Wolves.
Looking ahead, ten Hag will be counting on his young stars to maintain their momentum as United faces Aston Villa in their upcoming Premier League fixture. With United currently sixth in the table and trailing Villa by eight points in fourth place, the contributions of Garnacho, Hojlund, and Mainoo could prove pivotal in their bid to climb up on the league standings.
