Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is confident that his team can kick on during the 2023-24 campaign after 'building the foundations last season'.
The Red Devils finished third in last season's Premier League table, in addition to winning the EFL Cup, while they suffered a 2-1 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Man United have boosted their squad this summer with the arrivals of Mason Mount and Andre Onana, while Rasmus Hojlund is said to be on the verge of joining from Atalanta BC.
The 20-time English champions will finish their pre-season tour of the United States with a contest against Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund on Sunday evening.
Man United will be looking to move closer to the likes of Manchester City in the Premier League table last season, and Ten Hag is confident that the club will enjoy a successful campaign.
"I think the difference is, with reference to last year, now we have the foundation with this squad. Because we built the foundation last season," Ten Hag told reporters.
"So the squad, the way of play, and now we have to find the right players to fit in and to raise the bar. We succeeded with Andre Onana, we succeeded with Mason Mount and now we are looking for a striker.
"So far I think we have had a good trip. You see the fans are very excited about our games. Also we get beautiful receptions everywhere and in every city we enter. New York, San Diego, Houston. So, great reception, and we are happy with it. We want to make contact with our fans in the USA and I think we succeeded in that.
"Tomorrow we go to Las Vegas, a big city, and also there we want to do the same. We want to show ourselves to our fans in Las Vegas and we hope for a full stadium. We have an attractive opponent, it is a good opponent so we have a good test."
Ten Hag was also asked directly about Hojlund during his press conference to preview the Dortmund clash, but the Dutchman refused to discuss a switch for the Denmark international.
"First of all I can't talk about a player who is under contract at another club. But first question we have to raise the bar. But to raise the bar is necessary because the competition is very strong," he said.
"We have many competitors to battle for the first four positions in the Premier League so it's going to be a huge battle. It is not between two or three clubs, it is about seven, eight, nine clubs who all can finish in the end in the top four. So it is going to be a very exciting league I am sure."
Man United are said to have now reached an agreement with Atalanta over a move for Hojlund, with the 20-year-old set to pen a five-year deal at Old Trafford.
The forward, providing that there are no issues with his medical, could then make his debut for the club next weekend against either Lens or Athletic Bilbao. body check tags ::
