“Proactive and very aggressive”: Erik ten Hag gives key insight into the style of play he wants after win vs. Real Betis

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has described the style of football he wants to implement ahead of the upcoming 2024/25 season as “proactive and very aggressive”.

Ten Hag spoke to MUTV after United cruised to a 3-2 pre-season win against Real Betis.

Betis took the lead against the run of play when Iker Losada capitalised on a huge goalkeeping mistake from Tom Heaton.

However, United came back roaring, as Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo and Casemiro all found the back of the net to secure the victory.

Diogo Llorente headed in the ball at around the hour-mark but his finish turned out to be just a consolation prize.

After the final whistle, Ten Hag told club media about his playing style going forward, “What we want to achieve is we want to be very proactive and very aggressive and it doesn’t matter if sometimes we are high [up the pitch] or sometimes in a lower block.”

“We have to be very aggressive and in order to get this we need to start the press at certain points and all be on one page. Then the intensity must convert to being with the ball and we must do this as a team.”

On his side’s performance at the Snapdragon Stadium, he remarked, “I think it was okay, the lads did well. At the start we had some problems in getting control and we went 1-0 down which shouldn’t happen. I actually think this was the first time they entered our box.”

“But then we took over and we bounced back, I think we made three really good goals, first the penalty and it was a good action from Amad. The second I would [also] say is a very good goal. The third one from the corner is also a nice goal. The second where Harry Amass put the cross [in] and Amad scored the goal with the finish was lovely.”

The Dutch coach hailed Amad’s fine performances and the terrific form he appears to be in.

The United boss said about the Ivorian, “Yes, he [Amad] is performing well and [he is having] a good pre-season so far. You could see absolutely he is making an uplift in his game. Also in the defending part with the counter-press but also with the pressing he is doing really well. So I am really pleased with his performance.”

“This week everyone has to get more minutes in to come [up] to match fitness. Of course the games will get tougher and I think on Saturday it will be a very good test when we face Liverpool. That is very good preparation for the new season.”

Ten Hag insisted that United could have scored more goals.

He explained that the Red Devils should have been awarded a penalty after Rashford was brought down inside the Betis box.

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