VAR proposal, Rashford abuse, team news - Everything Ten Hag said in Manchester United press conference today

Erik ten Hag spoke to the press on Thursday afternoon ahead of Manchester United's final Premier League match of the season.

United must better Newcastle's result on the final day if they are to qualify for the Conference League, while their only hopes of qualifying for the Europa League rely on defeating Man City in the FA Cup final next week.

The Wembley showdown has a lot of Ten Hag's attention even ahead of the trip to Brighton, though the United manager is focused on a positive end to the league campaign first.

Speaking to the media ahead of the match, Ten Hag issued some early teams, gave his thoughts on the proposal to scrap VAR next season and also addressed the abuse Marcus Rashford received ahead of the midweek victory over Newcastle.

Here is everything he said...

On team news

“I can’t day, we’re working to bring players back. Licha had a good session now as well, others on the pitch like Raphael, Victor Lindelof, we have to see how far they are on Sunday. Tomorrow we’re off, Saturday we have training.”

Shaw and Maguire

“For England I can’t say but for the cup final we’re working on it. Harry Maguire has a fair chance that he will be available, Luke is more complicated in this moment, let’s say it’s less of a chance he will make it but still a very small chance. He had a setback, now we have to find out how far it is.”

Amrabat and Amad in cup final contention

“It’s internal competition, they perform well first, they progress across the season is very good, now they deserve the chance, took the chance, that’s a problem which is good, what I need and was waiting for all season. It’s a luxury problem, you need a squad to win both games.”

VAR proposal

“I don’t think there is a way back, in principle it makes football more fair, but there are some problems, we have to find the solutions to these problems, make improvements.”

Potential of this United squad

“I know in the back of my head, my focus is 10 days, two very important games, now the focus is on two games.”

Wayne Rooney comments

“I look at the two games, that’s important, all the issues will distract us, we know what we’re building on and we have to keep this process going, but at the same time we have to win games, two very important games.”

Brighton preview

“Most important is our game. It’s a difficult style of play, I admire it, it’s a real challenge so really looking forward, its up to us to et the right plan, the right execution, then the players to get the win.”

Lessons learned from this season

“I think also that I don’t go into reflection at this moment, my focus is to win those two games. That is all the energy I have now in those two games.”

What last two games taught him

“It was one very poor performance and all the others was a very good spirit, I would almost day across the season, all the problems we had, I don’t think I have to sum them up again but the spirit in the team and the fighting spirit was always there, the dynamic was always there. We had some good performances even when the besst players were not available. When you hane to change so many things the patterns aren’t there. The last two games returning some players, progressed very weel, the performances were good.”

Learning curve for young players

“Absolutely, confidence is a great thing. This season we almost didn‘t get the turning point, not we can make a step through. I remember the arsenal game and in the 8yth minute I thought we won it. That could have given a big lift to the game. We never got this but a game like yesterday will help us, especially the young players. It will give us lots of confidence.”

Marcus Rashford abuse

“I have seen, I felt yesterday, there were 68,000 fans, 3,000 from Newcastle, maybe they were negative, but the 68,000 fans were very positive about the mood and the spirit and the fight and the ambience in the stadium. That shows the strong bond between the team and the fans.”

Any knowledge behind the injuries

“No. I know, but I don’t share this, it’s not important, we can’t change things. The common trend is it’s about two games.”

“That is the future and across the summer, not for now.”

How to become best transition team

“I think we have players in our squad and the attacking transition we can play very good transitional football and we showed on many occasions we did this, a quick, direct game and we can take a lot of benefit from it. I meant attacking transitions.

“You have to be on top level, possession, keep the ball, defending, if you want to win games that is the foundation.”