Silva: 'United know what we are capable of'
Marco Silva, Fulham boss, speaking on Thursday:
There have been fine margins. The reality is we have been a match for them. I'm excited to be at Old Trafford and to start there - the environment is going to be very good. They will want to start on the front foot - but they know what we are capable of.
[We have been] one of the only teams that is going to compete in the Premier League that has lost four senior players. We have to deal with it. We have a lot of work to do in the next two and a half weeks in the market because we need it. Now we have to rebuild again like we did last season.
At this stage of the season, I would like to have all the squad we need and have them prepared. It is always same story. It is what it is. We have been working hard. We're not 100% yet, but we are going to be ready for the game.
'Manchester has been buzzing'
Nathan Salt, Mail Sport, at Old Trafford:
Hello from Old Trafford. First thing to note is that Manchester has been buzzing all afternoon with fans itching for this one to start. All four Man United summer signings - Matthjis de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee - are going to be introduced to the crowd this evening - even if Yoro is still on crutches after his pre-season injury.
I was at Erik ten Hag’s press conference yesterday and he was chipper and relaxed. Speaking to people at the club they’ve noticed a shift in that sense in Ten Hag this summer, he’s been more laid back, a tad more gentile, and he will hope that can rub off on his players.
Make no mistake that this is a huge game for him and United. This sets the tone of the new season and losing would only put his future into sharp focus immediately. Win tonight and the next eight days before Brighton away can be enjoyable. Lose and it’s a long time to be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. I’m really excited to see this one play out.
New kids on the block
With a new season comes new signings.
Manchester United are one of the teams who have poured money into freshen up ahead of this season.
I mean, let's be honest, if they hadn't it would have been very silly of them.
Erik ten Hag has brought in four new bodies through the door, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee, and Leny Yoro.
Will any of them feature tonight?
Well, we know that Yoro won't as he has been sidelined with a metatarsal problem.
However, Ten Hag has stated that De Ligt, Mazraoui, and Zirkzee could all be involved tonight.
We will have to wait and see in what capacity.
Ten Hag: 'We are NOT ready'
Erik ten Hag, Manchester United boss, speaking on Thursday:
The team is not ready but the league starts. There are more managers who definitely have this problem but we have to make a start. We can't hide from it. We can't run away from it. We have to deal with it.
Issues are there but it's not about the players who are not available. It's also what I said always last season. It's about the players who are available and we have a good group, we can make a strong selection, we can put out a strong team so we will do.
A strong start to 24-25
It's hard to explain just how excited I am right now.
I have loved this year's summer of sport, it truly has been spectacular, but nothing says Olympic hangover cure quite like the Premier League.
Yes, I know that English football returned last week - sadly I had to watch a team I very much like lose - but it doesn't quite compare to the curtain raiser of England's top flight (please don't be angry EFL fans).
Tonight it's serving up a gorgeous starter to a weekend of action as Manchester United take on Fulham.
Erik ten Hag clung on to his job last year after a dreadful season and now he needs to make amends.
Meanwhile, Marco Silva has lost some of his key stars this summer but also brought in some new ones.
These two served up some cracking games last year (sorry to remind you United fans), so this match promises a lot.
Let's hope to see fireworks to start the show that is 2024-25.
Back so soon?
Just like ABBA sing in Mamma Mia, here we go again!
Time just moves so quickly, doesn't it? It feels like just yesterday I was sat at this keyboard typing sweet nothings about the conclusion of last season.
Just three months later after the highs and lows of Euro 2024, and the drama of the Olympics, the Premier League is back.
And where better to start than the Theatre of Dreams.
Erik ten Hag will be hoping his come true this season after the league horrors of last year as his Manchester United side look to get off to a flyer against Fulham.
But if we know United, it won't be straightforward.
Get yourselves strapped in, the wheels are about to start rolling on what will be a rollercoaster of a season.
