Ten Hag hopes for new blood in United squad
Erik ten Hag wants Manchester United to "make new improvements" in the upcoming transfer window, although he believes the basis of the current squad is "very good".
Ten Hag's second season at Old Trafford has failed to live up to the standards set in his maiden campaign, which saw United end its trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup while finishing in the top four of the Premier League.
United heads into its game away at Crystal Palace on Tueday (AEST) in eighth place, 13 points off Aston Villa in fourth, and European qualification of any sort now looks almost impossible.
With the transfer window opening soon, Ten Hag hopes the club makes additions, though he also feels the current squad has promise.
"I'm now going into my fifth [transfer] window," Ten Hag said. "We have to make new improvements to the squad. But there is a base of this squad that is very good.
"The injuries had a big impact, but we are still below the levels of the expectations Manchester United have, so we have to catch up."
Harry Maguire, whose future is reportedly uncertain, was ruled out for the rest of the season with a muscle injury.
Palace, meanwhile, has breezed to Premier League safety since the arrival of coach Oliver Glasner in February, the Eagles currently 14th in the table and 14 points clear of 18th-placed Luton Town.
The Eagles are unbeaten in four, and Glasner is hopeful his side can keep that run going as it looks to finish the season strongly.
"We hope that we can keep this momentum," Glasner said.
"It is up to us how we work during the week. They look ready, I could see how focused they are in training.
"We're four games unbeaten and the goal is staying unbeaten until the end of the season."
Palace won 1-0 against United at Old Trafford earlier this campaign, but the Eagles have never completed a league double over the Red Devils.
United has shipped 77 goals in 47 games in all competitions this season, its most in a season since 1977-1978 (80). Its current ratio of conceding (1.64 goals-per-game) is its worst since the 1962-1963 campaign (1.75 per game).
Meanwhile, United won eight of its first 11 away Premier League games against Palace (three draws) but is winless in its past three (two draws, one defeat).
Palace has won both of its past two Premier League games at Selhurst Park, previously winning three in a row at home in the competition in October 2022.
United has both scored and conceded in each of its past eight Premier League away games. Only once has it had a longer such run in the competition, doing so in nine consecutive games between May and November 2001.
