Erik ten Hag hails Jonny Evans’ impact on Manchester United’s younger players

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag believes veteran centre-back Jonny Evans can have a big impact on the club’s younger players after deciding to hand the 35-year-old a short-term deal. The former Leicester City defender has travelled to Edinburgh for Wednesday’s pre-season friendly against Lyon and is likely to feature off the bench before then travelling with the squad to San Diego for the first leg of the club’s tour of the United States.

Ten Hag has enjoyed having Evans around Carrington as he works on his fitness ahead of finding a new club. Asked to explain the decision to involve Evans against Lyon, Ten Hag told MUTV: ‘Of course I know [about] him for a long time, I know his place was here, was in Manchester. We welcomed him to come and train with us, to work on his fitness, and then I said not all the players are in, the internationals were out still on their break.

‘So I thought it was a good idea to help each other out. Jonny can work on his fitness, and he can help us out with [our] level. We know he’s a very experienced player but also a very good person, big personality, and I think he has a big authority as well and he can help the young players especially in such moments. So it benefits all sides.’

Brazilian winger Antony is fit enough to start against Lyon

Brazilian winger Antony is fit enough to start against Lyon while Donny van de Beek and Fred are both in the squad, with Ten Hag underlining the need to have a large and competitive pool of players to draw upon. Asked about his returning players, Ten Hag replied: ‘It’s needed! That was one of the things at the end of the season, we had some problems injury-wise. We played so many games, a huge number, probably more than everyone else.

‘And then you saw in the end, in the final stage of the season, we were not always with our best team. You need the numbers and you need – especially in the end of the season – to pick the best team. So when I came back to the FA Cup final, City had their best team on the pitch but I think we had some problems.

Ten Hag sends message of support to former Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar

Ten Hag also sent a message of support to his old Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar who was moved out of intensive care this week after suffering a bleed on the brain. ‘It was a real shock for everyone, I think all the fans in Manchester and in the Netherlands as well, all the fans from Ajax,’ said the Dutch coach. ‘It’s so devasting when you hear that news and all our thoughts are with him and his family.’

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