Erik ten Hag believes that Manchester United has the potential to alter the course of the season during a crucial week in the busy holiday period.

Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, holds a positive outlook on his team’s ability to improve their season during the hectic Christmas period. Despite a lackluster beginning to the campaign, Ten Hag is confident that the jam-packed festive schedule presents an ideal chance for his team to secure valuable points.

In anticipation of the Christmas period, Ten Hag recognizes the potential distractions that arise with the holiday season but stresses the significance of staying dedicated to their responsibilities. He views this upcoming week, with three consecutive matches, as a pivotal moment to alter the course of their season. Ten Hag also emphasized the players’ obligation towards the supporters, who have shown unwavering support even in tough times. He believes that the fans deserve to witness a team that exhibits determination and belief on the field.

The initial examination for United during this festive period will occur against West Ham United, a team just one point behind them in the league standings. The upcoming match at the London Stadium is anticipated to be demanding, especially with the presence of West Ham’s in-form forward, Jarrod Bowen, posing a considerable threat.

Following the West Ham encounter, United will make their way back to Old Trafford on Boxing Day to confront Aston Villa, a team that surprisingly settled for a draw against Sheffield United. Afterwards, they will encounter Nottingham Forest, who have recently hired Nuno Espirito Santo as their fresh coach.

The away performance of United has raised worries, especially when playing against the top nine teams in the league. In the past eight away matches against these teams, they have managed to secure only two draws and suffered six defeats. The upcoming game against West Ham will prove to be another challenging examination for them.

According to TNT analyst Paul Scholes, United has displayed a lack of wisdom in their approach towards significant away matches. He proposes that the team needs to strike a better equilibrium between their offensive and defensive strategies when confronting formidable opponents. United has faced injury problems this season, leading to the absence of important players. Currently, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, and Victor Lindelof are all dealing with injuries. Scholes recognizes that these absences have had a negative effect on the team’s performance.

To catch the West Ham United vs Manchester United game, fans can tune in to either TNT Sports 1 or TNT Sports Ultimate. The coverage will start at 11:00 on Saturday, December 9, and the match will kick-off at 12:30.