Erik ten Hag has acknowledged that Manchester United need to "kill in the box" after managing just five goals in the Premier League this season, resulting in a goal difference of zero. Last season, United scored 57 goals while conceding 58. On Saturday, they were held to a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace, despite dominating possession (67% to 33%) and taking 15 shots, six of which were on target.

Among Ten Hag's attackers, Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo, and Alejandro Garnacho have each scored once this season, with the newly-acquired defender Matthijs de Ligt netting United's other league goal. When asked if he is worried about United's attack this season, Ten Hag responded, "Concerned? We create a lot of chances in the first games of the season." He added, "Last week we scored seven against Barnsley [in the Carabao Cup], we are capable of scoring many goals, but it's a part of the game we have to improve and kill in the box."

Ten Hag was also asked if his forwards need to sharpen their mental approach. "There are different aspects to this," said the 54-year-old. "Most important is that you create chances and we create a lot of good moments, we are very creative, we have many opportunities to score goals, keep this process going and [work on] finishing."

United will host Twente on Wednesday in their opening Europa League game, which now features an expanded 32-team format. Ten Hag sees the tournament as an opportunity, especially since the winners qualify for the Champions League. "Yes – I think it's an opportunity, there are more roads to achieve the targets you want and this is definitely also a road," he said. "It's the most difficult [to do so], probably, in a tournament of 32. You have to be the best but it's a target, it's a road we want to go." He added, "That's because [most difficult] in the end you can be knocked out. But don't look too far ahead and as you know we want to win all the competitions and this is one of them."

United could play 17 matches en route to reaching the final in Bilbao on 21 May. While Ten Hag is open-minded about the new format, he is concerned about the extra load it will place on the players. "There are too many games, too many competitions, it's clear," the Dutchman said. "The players are overloaded, this is not good for football. Maybe it's good for commercial [imperatives]. There is a limit, it is unavoidable."

Luke Shaw may return from injury before next month's international break. "Probably but not 100% sure," Ten Hag said. "It can be shortly after the break [too]."