Erik ten Hag on Marcus Rashford break plus every word from press conference part one 31 March 2023

Where he’s not played a lot this season, and Wout [Weghorst] hasn’t scored many goals, Scott McTominay has had a pretty terrific week with Scotland… as a striker for the Academy, would there be any scenario where you would consider him playing as a striker? I know when you brought him on earlier in the season against Chelsea, you put him up front, but would you do that more frequently?
“I think Scott can play in many roles, and it’s clear, he has scoring capabilities, it’s clear. We have seen it for Scotland but also this season for us, he is a really good finisher, yeah. But I see him as a midfielder, so I think I am happy with what Wout is doing because when Wout is in the team, the team is performing better.”

Obviously Marcus has scored a career-best amount of goals this season, but is one thing that maybe the team is short of is that second player to be scoring like he is? Marcus has got 14 in the league, I think the next best is five, is that what this team is short of?
“I think we have players like Bruno, like Jadon Sancho, like Anthony Martial, like Scott McTominay, like Antony dos Santos, so I think we have players who have capabilities to score goals, definitely.”

The problem with Anthony Martial is he’s never available, so we can’t have that scenario going into next season?
“What I said previously, I work in the back[ground] on next season but we’re working now on this season. First of all, make sure everyone is available, so everyone is fit and then keep improving the way of play. That gives the best chance that we will score more goals.”

Just on Sunday’s game, you mentioned before the cup final that you were irritated by Newcastle, or that they can irritate you with their tactics, I think that you were concerned about timewasting, is that a concern going into the game on Sunday?
“A concern? We know they delay. That’s something that the refereeing doesn’t want, they want to have tempo in the game, that is the aim from the Premier League, to have tempo in the game. So, then they also have to be consistent to let the game go and do and act what the policy is.”

Is that their only tactic that irritates you?
“You said the question but it’s about us, like we did in the two previous games [against Newcastle], it’s about us. We want, as every game, to dictate, control the game. We play against a good opponent, we are aware of that, they have a great season with their manager, with their way of play, that is really a team that is hard to beat. But we’re looking forward to the challenge, and as we already had many challenges this season, and we have shown the evidence that we can beat them.”