Erik ten Hag hopes Manchester United remains on track for a top-four finish and silverware.
United is fifth, three points outside the top four ahead of the resumption of the league next week.
Manchester United resume their Premier League campaign against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on December 27.
Ten Hag was asked about the mid-season break. He said, “It was tough. We had a plan on how to do it, how to manage the load on the players.
“It’s all individual-based, no one is the same, no one had the same programme or minutes, and they play in different positions and are different ages. We tried to give everyone a plan, but we all know the restart is five or six days after the World Cup final.
“The Premier League resumes really quickly so everyone has to be ready for that. The manager, coaching staff, and players have to accept that.
“We want trophies, we want to have a strong team to battle for trophies. We have to adapt, do it smart, and hopefully, we can perform and get the right results.”
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United’s progress in the Carabao Cup has strengthened Ten Hag’s hopes of ending the club’s wait for a first trophy since 2017.
“We are aware the competition is tough, but it counts for all the seven, eight clubs fighting for the top four,” the Dutchman said.
“For all those that watch the Premier League, it is great because it will be exciting. You have to battle for every duel to get your points.
“I am looking at the process, how we are performing – we have to get results – but if we make the right progress, we have a good chance to get into the top four.
“I accept the pressure how it is. But also, the manager of Chelsea, and Newcastle United, all those clubs invested a lot in their squads as well.
“For every manager, it is a big pressure to get into the Champions League. You want to be in the top four, you want to fight for trophies. That is our aim, that is clear.”
