Ten Hag calls for right mentality on Reds' return

The Reds make the trip to South Wales to take on the League Two club in the fourth round of a competition we are seeking to win for the first time since 2016.

It will be new surroundings for United at Rodney Parade but, with a strong squad in tow, the boss is confident his side will display the professionalism required to progress.

Ahead of the 16:30 GMT kick-off, read and watch Ten Hag’s Q&A below…

Erik, how have you been using the winter break to prepare the squad for the second half of the season?
“Well, we split the group and so one group was in Dubai training, but also [for] some relaxation and and the other group had [time] off. They played so many games in the year 2022/23 so they needed a break, [to] get away from football and so recover mentally and physically. You see now we are back and we are back with the two groups. We have to create a togetherness and we have to restart.”

That's great to hear. Hopefully everybody will be refreshed. And what about the injured players? Are any more back and has the break allowed more players to return?
“Yeah, it’s looking much better, the picture. But we are still not 100 per cent there. Also they have, of course, a shortage on match performance. So match resistance, they have a lack of it. We have to bring it as quick as possible in. But in the meantime, we have to perform and we have to win, and that is our challenge.”

So how is the squad looking for the trip to South Wales this weekend? What's the travelling squad going to be like?
“Yeah, it's a strong side and we have still some injuries like Victor Lindelof [and] Tyrell Malacia. This morning Marcus Rashford was ill [and] Jonny Evans was ill so we have to see how they recover. But for the rest, we have players returning like [Lisandro] Martinez, like Luke Shaw, like Harry Maguire, like Casemiro which is a good thing.”

Great news. For Newport, the biggest game in their history. How excited are you to take your team there?
“Yeah, I think we have the experience often to go into an opposition who play their biggest game. I think exactly every game against them, they want so much to win more than against any other opponent. So that attitude from the opposition, that is usual for us. But it's not about them. It's about us. If we show the right mentality there, it's all about that.”

It's a small ground, a capacity of around 9,000 for this game. A small dressing room and a small dugout. How do you prepare for all those unknown factors?
“We will manage that, of course, but also don't make an item from it. It is what it is. And you know, that is also the charm from cup football. Take it as it is, act professional and make sure you get a win and go into the next round.”

And you saw last season just how much a good cup run means to our fans. How important is it that we do the same this season?
“[It is] clear. In every [competition] we are in, we want to win and that is always our approach. But in this moment, this is a way to make something very good from the season but also the Premier League, we have to catch up there and to make our season successful.”

Just finally, a few of the Academy graduates have gone out on loan this transfer window. What are you hoping to see from the likes of Dan Gore, Joe Hugill and Hannibal? These players who have gone out to experience first-team football...
“They have to be in men’s football and that's different. They train with us, but go and play and get the experience, what it is and what it means that you are the first team. Then you feel the pressure and you feel that you have to be responsible because teams, that's where it's everything about. When you are not accountable, you can't play for the first team and the pressure will also be there [from] away fans, the press and all those experiences they have to get. Apart from that, they have to make quicker decisions. It is more physical and it's very good that we have some players on loan to get the experiences and hopefully I see one or two back in the first team.”