Erik ten Hag is said to be concerned that the break for the World Cup has set back his Manchester United squad as the club prepare to resume their domestic campaign.
United return to action with a Carabao Cup tie against Burnley on Wednesday evening, having seen half of their squad depart to take part in the World Cup across the past month.
Ten Hag’s side had shown encouraging signs before the season’s pause, losing just one of their last seven Premier League games before the break.
However, the Dutchman is fearful that the time away with national sides will have set back the progress of his side, given the different environment and methods of international teams.
“They have been playing for six weeks in a different environment with a different style of play, and they have to get back to our rules and principles,” Ten Hag said ahead of the Burnley clash, as per the Mail.
“All 11 players have to be on the same page. You saw in this World Cup many nations played passively, waiting and playing on the reaction.
“We have seen against Manchester City, that was our big problem in that game. We want to be dominant and proactive, but we played in a different way.”
United will be without several of their World Cup participants for the fixture with Burnley, but Ten Hag is hopeful that his side can continue their development against the Clarets and reach the quarter-finals.
“We are in a good direction, but still there is a lot of room for improvement,” Ten Hag said.
“It means keeping high standards. I always say, satisfaction makes you lazy. If you are too satisfied with yourself and the team, you will not maintain those standards.”
