Erik ten Hag explains how new Man Utd structure will 'raise the bar'

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes the new sporting structure in place at Old Trafford this summer will "raise the bar" for the club.

United have appointed Dan Ashworth as sporting director, having already hired Jason Wilcox in the technical director role. Incoming chief executive Omar Berrada has a strong background in football operations from his time with Manchester City, while ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell has joined on a short-term contract to assist specifically with recruitment.

For Ten Hag, fresh off a contract extension until 2026, having the right structure in place to support the on-field development of the team is crucial.

"Very [excited], otherwise I wouldn’t extend my contract," he told MUTV in a first interview since pre-season began.

"I'm here now for two years. As I said, I came here to win, to win titles, trophies. We won two trophies, after a dry [spell] of six years, so we are in a good direction. Now, with the new ownership coming in, they can help us. They are very supportive."

"We've made a process, which we've constructed across the summer and we are in a very good position, a very strong position to go and attack. We are so pleased that around the football, around the first team, we have a strong structure that will help us," he continued.

"They are really supportive and that will help us in many ways, like in scouting and recruitment, in the departments of medical and performance. They will be so supportive and that will raise the bar."

United players reported to the club's Carrington training ground on Monday for day one of pre-season. But with a £50m renovation underway, temporary arrangements have been made for the duration of 2024/25. That includes using facilities that had been newly built for the women's team, a move that has drawn criticism from the wider football community.

Overall, Ten Hag is looking at the bigger picture and what completion of the project will mean.

"We really have something to look forward to, being constructed [here], and that will be the best training ground in English football, but the most important is now," he said.

"We live today and they did a great job to make this work and make this facility work to a professional condition, so we can work professionally. Four weeks ago here, it was chaotic, now it's set up so professionally. There is no way not to be positive about this. It's really exciting. You can feel the vibe already in this new facility, this new building. It’s our house and now we have to work in this."

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