Despite having made fewer signings in the January transfer window compared to other top teams in the Premier League, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has expressed confidence there is sufficient depth in their Old Trafford club squad.
United, currently fourth in the league, signed Wout Weghorst, Jack Butland and Marcel Sabitzer – all on loan – while Chelsea spent nearly 300 million pounds on eight players and league leaders Arsenal made four signings and third-placed Newcastle United signed five players.
“We have formed and constructed a squad, we invest also in the summer. From that point on, it is about developing the team and it has to come on the training ground, it has to come in the matches, that we develop the team,” Ten Hag told reporters.
“That is the advantage of having so many matches, that you can work on that and you don’t have to wait so long (for the next one)… There is a limit to every player but we have depth in our squad.
“Maybe not as far as other teams, but that has something to do with your approach to it and how you do your load management. If you do that right, I think you can go far.””
The former Ajax manager expressed he has no preference for having a huge squad at his disposal because “that also gives you problems”.
“As I said before, in the frontline until now, we have some problems in quantity. Not in quality but with the availability of the players, you definitely need numbers there if you want to cover all the games. If you want to be successful,” he added.
Ten Hag’s Red Devils are now fourth with 39 points after 20 games, behind Newcastle only on goal difference and will host Crystal Palace later on Saturday.