After Newcastle United cut short Martin Dubravka’s loan spell, Ten Hag was eager to sign a new backup goalkeeper.
Erik ten Hag has explained why Manchester United made Jack Butland their first January signing and responded to claims that his team is now a title contender in the Premier League.
Butland, 29, had his medical at United on Thursday ahead of his loan move from Crystal Palace.
After Newcastle United cut short Martin Dubravka’s loan spell, Ten Hag was eager to sign a new backup goalkeeper.
Butland, a former England international, has been at Crystal Palace since 2020 but has yet to play this season and will be out of contract at the end of it.
Asked about United’s move for Butland, Ten Hag said: ‘Yes, so Martin [Dubravka] was recalled and now to set up we need three experienced goalkeepers.
‘We have some young ones, and they do well, but we have so many games, so you need three good goalies in training, but also when problems arise, you need experience in goal to achieve your goals,’ says the coach.
‘I’m very happy with David [de Gea], it’s quite clear, he’s our No. 1, he’s a really good performer, but there’s always something that can happen with David, and you have to be prepared for that.
‘Last year, I was with Ajax and we had three goalies injured, and you don’t want to be in that situation when you’re competing for trophies.
‘We had to bring in a young keeper because you can’t expect it and it can ruin your season. That is what you must prepare for.’
Butland has nine England caps and was part of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad in 2018.
He will join a Manchester United team that has enjoyed an impressive run to fourth place in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Arsenal.
‘We have to go from game to game, think about and work on that progressing, it’s all about that as a team, first thing, and then individual as individuals get better,’ Ten Hag said when asked if United’s form has turned them into title contenders.
‘Let’s say we’re in a good position, we’re where we want to be, but we still go from game to game, we play in many competitions, we focus from game to game, and we don’t think too far ahead,’ says one coach.
When asked about United’s trophy drought – they haven’t won a trophy since 2017 – he said, “We haven’t won anything since 2017.” ‘I don’t think about that,’ Ten Hag added.
‘It’s in this stage of the season you are not looking at, we have to together get into a position where you can win something.
‘Don’t get distracted or overthink things. It’s all about focusing on the team’s progress and development. We need to work on many aspects of our game.’
Manchester United face struggling Everton in the third round of the FA Cup on Friday, before facing Charlton in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.