Ten Hag: We must show courage and belief

The showcase event at Wembley is the first time the two Manchester clubs have met in a major final, and Erik is hoping to be on the right side of history come this afternoon (Saturday).

Kicking off at 15:00 BST, we will lock horns with our city rivals, looking to come out on top and win both domestic cups in the same season for the first time ever, following February's Carabao Cup success at the same venue.

Prior to the highly anticipated clash, the boss conducted an interview with club media, revealing that he used to watch the FA Cup final as a child, as well as discussing other topics.

Erik urged his side to come together with our supporters one last time in 2022/23, which he believes will give United 'a good opportunity to win the cup and to bring the cup to Old Trafford'.

First and foremost, how's the squad looking? You mentioned Antony dos Santos might be fit, but Anthony Martial, we hear, will be out?
"Yes, and so it’s unlikely that Antony dos Santos will be in the squad as well but there's still a small chance. But as I always say, we have a good squad and we've had these conversations before. If players are not available, therefore, you have a squad and I think we managed it very well all through the season. So, we will do it on Saturday again. We will make a good team from the squad."

And you play a very good team, but you've already beaten City this season. So how important will that memory be when facing them again?
"Oh, we know that we can beat them and that is important. Because everyone knows you play against a tough team, a very good team, and they win the Premier League. And so, yeah, the way they play, we admire that, but we know we can beat them."

We've already played at Wembley twice this season [in] two tough games, but we've won both games. How important will those memories, that experience be?
"That will always be helpful, that you go back anywhere where you feel at home, like we feel at home at Old Trafford. And so that is good. We know that. We take that in our luggage [to London] and it will improve our belief."

I know you've had a lot of cup success in Holland. You've also obviously won the Carabao Cup, but the FA Cup is one of the most famous domestic cup competitions in the world. So how much will you enjoy walking your team out in the showpiece occasion?
"Absolutely and, as you say, the FA Cup has a big reputation, not only I think in England, but I think in all the world and, over many years, that reputation is historical. So I watched as a child, we watched the FA Cup, we stayed home for it. We stopped playing football to watch the FA Cup final, so it means a lot. And I am really looking forward [to it]."

It's going to be an emotional occasion for the players, for you and your staff, for the fans as well. So how do you and your team manage those emotions in a big game like this?
"Yeah. You need the emotion. You need that to get the right performance. But, of course, you have to control it until a certain point because it [can be only] emotion. The ratio has to be in balance."

The team's growth has been really fantastic this season. It's been so good for us fans to watch. How happy are you with with where we are and where we're going?
"We have had a good season, so far. Because there's one big game to play and we are really looking forward, and we have made really good progress. We won a lot of games this season. Yeah, so we have had a good season and the progress from the team and individuals is very good. But, yeah, we have a big test and so, when you go into a big test, that always brings you the best performance because you get challenged."

Knowing your positive forward-thinking mindset, there's little room for reflection until after this big last game. But how proud are you to have helped the players and the fans reconnect to make us all united?
"Yeah, as well. We worked very hard from the start, with the team, with the staff, the technical areas, but also with the communication staff, that we want to be connected with the fans because a football club is for the fans and you have to acknowledge that. For everyone who's working in that football club, that you are playing for the fans and we are playing in the Theatre of Dreams, so you want to entertain the fans. And I think we did it many times and the fans were always behind us and I expect the same on Saturday at Wembley. They will be behind us. We have noticed previously, when we had the Carabao Cup [final and the FA Cup] semi-final, they will be behind us. It's a great game and we will give everything. And I think that’s also what they can expect from us."

And just finally, one of our favourite moments of the whole season was your passionate address to the Old Trafford crowd after the game against Fulham. And that last bit when you said we've got one big game to go and the crowd roared, that energy was sensational. How important is it that you tap into that feeling this week?
"Yeah, but that is for the players - they have to show it from minute one, that they have that feeling. They show courage. They show belief and and that they enjoy this game. And when we do it and have togetherness with the fans, we have a good opportunity to win the cup and to bring the cup to Old Trafford."