Following defeats in his first two competitive games in charge, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has since presided over four straight league wins. United’s winning run has seen them rise from the bottom of the table to fifth after six games.
Ten Hag was named the Premier League’s manager of the month for September on Friday while striker Marcus Rashford won the players’ award, after scoring twice and registering two assists last month.
“It is for what we achieved as a group. We did it together and it tells us we are going in the right direction. But there is a lot of space to improve,” he said.
United have not played a league game since beating Arsenal on September 4, however, and face a hectic schedule of nine matches in October, starting with today’s short trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
“I have played many derbies, I know it is the most important game,” Ten Hag said. “We are convinced of our capabilities. If we act as a team then we can beat our opponents. That is the belief we need, and we need it even more on Sunday.”
Rashford and Anthony Martial have returned to training ahead of today’s derby against City but captain Harry Maguire will miss out through injury, Ten Hag said.
Rashford sat out United’s last two games, against Real Sociedad and Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League, with a muscle injury, while Martial has only played 45 minutes this season due to hamstring and Achilles injuries.
“Harry Maguire is injured. For the rest, we have some doubts,” Ten Hag told reporters on Friday.
Guardiola said Erling Haaland has overcome injury issues that have hampered him in recent seasons and defended the Premier League club’s decision to send a physiotherapist along with the striker on international duty.
Haaland, who joined City from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, struggled with a hip flexor muscle injury last season, but has played in all seven of City’s league games this campaign, scoring 11 goals.
When asked about City physio Mario Pafundi travelling with the Norwegian striker during the international break, Guardiola told reporters: “It’s not weird. When there are events like the European cups or World Cups, many physios go with players.
“Always I said to the club the most important department in the backroom staff, everyone is important, but the most important is the physios. They take care of the lads,” Guardiola added.
“Erling last season struggled a lot in Dortmund, most of the year he was injured. He arrived here with problems after a small surgery in the summer. He started work with Mario, with (Manuel) Rico and the other guys.
“Thanks to them, and of course his work ethic, he can play regularly, which last season wasn’t possible ... Mario and Erling like each other and he asked him to go to Norway, and they did that.”
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