Erik Ten HagManchester United manager, spoke to TNT Sports ahead of the away match at Brighton, valid for the second day of the Premier League scheduled for 1.30pm: “It is obviously very important to start with a win. The start of the season is always very tough and it’s about points. But you also have to work on the structures because if they are not right, if the mentality is not right, then you will not pick up points. We know that at the start of the season not everything will go 100% right, so the mentality has to be to save to bring home the points”.
On keeping the same lineup as the first day: “The team did well. Not everything went well last week but the substitutions made us win the game and the team did well. We need starters and finishers.”
On Joshua Zirkzee who starts from the bench today: “No, he wasn’t knocking on the door. Everyone understands the role he has in the team. It’s a long season, he’ll have his departures but as I said we have to win the games as a team, starters and finalists.”
In closing: “We did well last week, but it’s only the first game. Now we have to build on this.”