Anthony Elanga isn't the first player to be quizzed on a lack of minutes under Erik ten Hag and he certainly won't be the last.
16.03.2023 - 08:07 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Erik ten Hag admits he did not expect Manchester United to climb up the Premier League table as quickly as they have this season.
United ended a demoralising 2021-22 campaign trophyless and in sixth in the league but they are currently third and well poised to qualify for the Champions League through a top four finish.
A probable return to the competition, as well as the end of the club's trophy drought with the League Cup victory last month, would fuel optimism of a championship challenge among supporters next term.
Read more: Ten Hag angry over two fouls after Alejandro Garnacho setback
United intend to sign a striker in the summer and Ten Hag is eager to recruit a dynamic midfielder. The United manager stressed investment is essential in a competitive Premier League if United are to make "the next step".
"I think we have made good progress but we have to acknowledge there is still a gap," Ten Hag noted. "I couldn't expect we would close that gap that quickly.
"But we want to win every game, no matter the opponent. I think all of the games you see until now, we try to win every game, we've beaten all the top teams, so we are capable of doing it but now we have to make the next step to be more dominant, more consistent, so we have some steps to take. But we know in this time we can do it.
"You see the competition and I also heard comments from other players, and managers in the Premier League, the Premier League was never that difficult as no. There are, so many competitors. It's not a two-horse race, it's five, six, seven-horse race. So you have to be very good if you want to win the league.
"We are aiming for that but what we want there are six or seven clubs more, they will invest, they will spend big money, they
Anthony Elanga isn't the first player to be quizzed on a lack of minutes under Erik ten Hag and he certainly won't be the last.
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Here are your Manchester United morning headlines on Wednesday, March 8.
Erik ten Hag has named his starting line-up for Manchester United's Premier League showdown with rivals Liverpool at Anfield this afternoon, making a number of changes.
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