Erik ten Hag stood in front of a whiteboard, his sharp eyes scanning the list of names written beside it. Mounted next to the board was a plaque displaying the names of all the players under his charge. Behind him, his team of assistant coaches sat attentively, waiting for his next words.
Letting out a slow exhale, he rubbed his temple before finally speaking.
"Before we even begin selecting the squad, we have a problem." His voice was firm, carrying a weight of authority as he turned around to face his coaching staff.
"The squad limit is 28 players," he continued. "But unlike in the Dutch league, Premier League regulations state that we can only register 25 players for the season."
A moment of silence followed as his words settled. Then, Mike Phelan, one of the senior figures among the coaching staff, leaned forward and said, "Sir, that's not really an issue."
Ten Hag's gaze shifted to him, waiting for an explanation.
