After Manchester United's 2-0 victory over Leeds United in their first friendly match ahead of the 2023/24 season, coach Erik ten Hag shared notable remarks. It was Mason Mount's debut match for Manchester United, although he did not score or assist, the English star left a strong impression and received praise from Ten Hag.
Following the match, Erik ten Hag praised the new signing, saying, "We hope Mason feels comfortable. I know Mount's ability, and he will definitely help us reach a new level. You could see what Mount brought to the game today. He is a very versatile midfielder, suited to the club."
Mount can bring joy to the entire team with his various skills. This player will undoubtedly contribute a lot to Manchester United, especially in set-pieces. We need players who can perform well in that aspect. When playing in midfield, players need to excel in both attack and defense. I can confirm that Mount brings mobility, and we need more of that in the central area.
On his part, Mason Mount expressed his comfort playing in a deeper role as an organizing midfielder, stating, "I really enjoyed the role in today's match. I was positioned deeper, playing a creative role, but still had the freedom to push forward and penetrate the penalty area for goals. I liked the start like this. It made it difficult for the opponents, and we combined well in the attack."
After the friendly against Leeds, Manchester United will travel to Scotland to prepare for their second friendly against Lyon, scheduled for July 19th in Edinburgh.
Ten Hag also confirmed that stars such as Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, and Luke Shaw will only return to training from Saturday (July 15th) after their international duties in June. He mentioned, "Most of the players who are still in the rest period will not appear in the match against Lyon. They need a week of good training before being able to play. Plus, they played a lot in the previous season, so they need rest. The club needs to be cautious in reintegrating these players. You cannot rush this phase."
