Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United, led the club to finish his first Premier League season in third place during the 2022-23 campaign. Though he admitted in an interview with ESPN that only Manchester City can talk about going for the title in the coming new season, the Dutch manager believes United have proved with their performance that they can beat anyone.

"I think there were also games where we bounced back. But it's true: We proved we can beat anyone, all of the big teams in the world. Also we had our bad days, and we have to be more consistent," Ten Hag said.

In the 2021-22 season before Ten Hag's arrival, United were sixth in the Premier League and 35 points behind the champions, City. Ten Hag cut that deficit to 14 points, which is still big, but not too bad in the following 2022-23 campaign. Besides, United defeated City 2-1 in their second meeting of the season in January. Nonetheless, they lost to City in the other two games they played each other, one 6-3 in the Premier League, and the other 2-1 in the FA Cup final. Moreover, United also lost to Liverpool 7-0 at Anfield in March.

"It's the truth, but we have to learn from that. But still, it's only three points and if the team's character is strong, and every time we bounce back after such a bad result – not just a bad result, but a bad performance. ... Also this season I'm sure there will be bad results, and we'll have to deal with it," Ten Hag told ESPN.

"Of course, we want to avoid it, but when it happens, we can then do damage control for a period, deal with difficult moments then, in a later stage of the game, find a way back. That is definitely also one of our challenges this season," he added.

Ten Hag's ability and boldness in making major decisions over United's squad have been highlighted in letting long-time goalkeeper David de Gea go and stripping Harry Maguire of team captaincy. Both decisions caused a lot of controversy.

"It's nothing against Harry, it was to the advantage of the team, but I will not say that Harry isn't part of this group. He has to fight for his position. He is a very good center-back, and I believe in the potential of Harry Maguire. It's just that he has to prove himself and fight his way into the team. It's up to him, and I think he can do it," Ten Hag said.

United signed Andre Onana from Inter Milan to replace De Gea. The 27-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper allowed 36 goals with 19 clean sheets in 41 games in the 2022-23 season, helping the Nerazzurris win the Copa Italia and reach the UEFA Champions League final.

"I think he proved it over last season, but now he's coming to a new club and he has to prove it here. He has the potential and the skills in that aspect to improve our game, and that will definitely help our team," Ten Hag said of Onana.

United have been one of the most successful clubs in English football history and that's why their fans always demand that the club win titles. Ten Hag is convinced that in the "united" club of the Red Devils, "everyone is supporting each other to meet the high expectations from the fans" and they will try to do better in the new season.

"In every moment of the game, we have to improve. What fits this team is transition, both ways. When you want to have good attacking transitions, you need very good pressing. That's key and so we work a lot on that, on moments where we are compact," Ten Hag told ESPN. "From compactness, we press the opponent and that can be at different levels on the pitch. But we have to be proactive with our defending, and once we have the ball we have to keep the ball, or go on a transition."