Every word Erik ten Hag said at Manchester United’s press conference ahead of Arsenal’s friendly

We’ll be calling time on this press conference blog, but fear not, we’ll still have the daily transfer blog running throughout the evening – which you can findHERE.

Keep an eye on the MEN website for all the reaction and analysis ahead of tomorrow’s pre-season friendly against Arsenal.

Erik ten Hag has told Harry Maguire to fight for his place in the United team after taking over the captaincy from the 30-year-old last weekend.

Maguire finished last season as the club’s fourth-choice central defender and his role as club captain looked untenable after losing his place in the team.

He has been replaced by Bruno Fernandes and Maguire’s future at the club is now uncertain, but Ten Hag believes the decision could actually benefit the England international and he wants him to fight for his place in the side.

Read the whole story here.

Erik ten Hag wants Manchester United to arrange a final farewell for David de Gea at Old Trafford.

De Gea was released by United after 12 years as their number one earlier this month following a series of mistakes in their run-up last season.

United have signed Ten Hag’s former Ajax keeper Andre Onana as De Gea’s replacement in a €55 million deal, while the Spaniard is yet to join a new club.

Ten Hag said it was “the right moment” to let De Gea go.

“I think David had a huge contribution to our performance level last year and result, all the clean sheets he made, but there’s also the team performance. Because we defend with 11, not just the goalkeeper. But it was quite clear that David played a big role, a huge contribution.

Read the whole story here.

Erik ten Hag insists the decision on Mason Greenwood’s future will be made by the club, but he has had his say on what he wants to happen to the suspended striker.

Greenwood has not played for United since January 2022 after being arrested on suspicion of rape and assault before being further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and threats to kill.

In October 2022 he was charged with attempted rape, control and coercive behavior and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but in February this year prosecutors dropped the charges, citing the withdrawal of a key witness and new material coming to light, meaning there was no longer a “realistic prospect of conviction”.

Read the whole story here.

Erik ten Hag insists United are doing “everything in our power” to sign a new striker.

United have signed midfielder Mason Mount and goalkeeper Andre Onana for £98.79m, but Ten Hag has repeatedly stressed the need to recruit a new No.9.

Injury-prone Anthony Martial has not taken part in team training so far in pre-season as he recovers from a hamstring tear, and he suffered six separate injuries last season. United did not sign Wout Weghorst after he scored two goals in 31 appearances during his loan spell.

Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund is Ten Hag’s primary target and the United manager held video calls with the 20-year-old last season. United’s director of football John Murtough has also had extensive discussions with Atalanta.

Read the whole story here.

That’s it from Erik ten Hag’s press conference before Arsenal!

Stay tuned to the MEN website tonight for all the reactions and analysis from our US writers.

“It’s a club decision and of course I said my opinions, but it’s a club decision and we have to accept that.”

“We don’t play friendlies.”

“I’m not talking about specific players who are under contract at another club.”

Yes, but he made a great contribution. If it was up to me, David after 545 games and all his contributions and such a long period – what he did is enormous. He is a legend so we have to say goodbye and absolutely with all the fans.

David has made a contribution to our results last year. All the clean sheets he made, but also always a team performance because we defend with 11. It was clear that David played a big role, a huge contribution. But there is a time for every player to leave a club. It was the right moment from our perspective.

We want to win every game and we showed last season that we can beat all the teams. Now we have to do it on a consistent basis, so that’s definitely one of our goals to be more consistent than we want to see.

We want to play at a higher level, raise the bar, raise the demands, then we’ll see. It is strong competition, but we can beat any club.

Across our squad, we have several leaders. You need a team of managers, team players, specialists and motivating players. All the areas you need to cover. I’m glad we have more than one leader. Bruno will carry the band, but he will have support from others.

“We will do everything in our power to get the right man in. We know our goals. We will make an effort to get things done.”

Everyone can understand that it is disappointing for a player. It can also work very well for the team and Harry. He is an important player. We have four centre-backs. We must have at least four centre-backs. We are delighted to have Harry in our squad.

Erik ten Hag will be with us soon.

Erik ten Hag has said that Andre Onana’s ability on the ball was a factor in him being United’s first-choice goalkeeper target, although he reiterated that his most important job is to prevent the opposition from scoring.

United have officially signed Andre Onana from Inter Milan for €55m (£47.2m)deal and the 27-year-old was the primary target to replace David de Gea, who left the club this month after his contract expired.