In the midst of the World Cup furore, domestic football may be on the back-burner for most Manchester United fans with the resumption of the season still three weeks away.
But Erik ten Hag will be focusing on that December 21 return date, when the Reds take on Championship leaders Burnley in the League Cup. In the meantime, he is taking the squad members who have not travelled to Qatar to Spain for a short training camp next week.
During that time they will take on La Liga opposition in strugglers Cadiz and lofty Real Betis in friendlies as Ten Hag tries to build match fitness back up. United may see a number of first-team members waiting for them at Carrington upon their return as more countries are eliminated from the World Cup.
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Christian Eriksen is already packing his bags after exiting at the group stage with Denmark while Facundo Pellistri follow suit next depending on how Uruguay fare in their final group game.
The aforementioned could play a role in United’s first game back given the three-week interim period between now and kick-off. The good news for those flying back from Qatar early is that they can soothe their wallowing by getting straight back on the training pitch ahead of a busy festive period.
In terms of the League Cup, Ten Hag indicated earlier this season that he is on the same page as most United fans about the club’s domestic objectives; A trophy to end the five-year drought would be super, but top four is the ultimate goal.
“In the league we need to get in the right position and then we have the cup, we want to win every game and every trophy so we have to go for it,” the United boss said, also later outlining: "We are playing in a lot of cups.
“I want to win trophies, of course but we want to qualify as one of the first four, that has to be the aim, to get there."
Taking into account both Ten Hag’s comments and the reality that those who feature later in the World Cup will almost certainly sit out the Burnley clash - which takes place just three days after the final - United will field a team that is less than full strength.
Ten Hag will not want to see one of the avenues that lead to silverware close but he may be more bothered about making sure his players are match-ready for the Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest six days later than the final result given his team are three points off the top four.
Because the hard truth is, Champions League qualification and no trophy still makes for a successful season but a League Cup triumph and fifth or sixth-place finish would not, and Ten Hag knows it.
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