Ten Hag: We need the right mentality

The Reds will be buoyed after recording three wins from our last three outings in all competitions, which included victories over Omonia both home and away, and also a battling triumph against Everton at Goodison Park.

Returning to the Theatre of Dreams for our first domestic appearance at home since 4 September, our Dutch boss has amplified the need for complete concentration throughout the 90 minutes in his matchday Q&A, as well as providing an update on our recently sidelined forward Anthony Martial.

Newcastle are up next for you, Erik, in the Premier League. They’re playing pretty well. How much do you have to focus on what they’re doing and how much do you have to focus on what you’re doing? 
''It is always the same. We respect the opponent. As you say, it is a tough opponent, but we know we have to play our best to get the right result.''

You’ve spoken a lot about principles and rules and making sure they’re being adhered to by your side. We saw that against Everton, so how important is it for those rules and principles to continue to be adhered to, especially when you’re playing a side like Newcastle? 
''Definitely [important] now bigger games are coming up, you have to be concentrated. In possession, I talk about principles, so there is freedom. But in defending, there is rules – there is no ifs and buts, you have to be 100% concentrated and disciplined to fulfil those rules. If you are not, you get punished. We want to avoid that.''

When you’ve got a side like Newcastle who are in a good run of form, they do have some momentum behind them. They’ve got players that can hurt you. You need to make sure that your side are as good as they have been defensively in the big games this season against Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton at the weekend… 
''That is clear. Not only about the defence, it’s about defending with 11 players and we need the right organisation, we need the intensity, and we need the right mentality to fight for each other and everyone has to take the responsibility to do the positioning well, anticipating well – especially also in battles, you have to go for it, you have to win them.'' 

Anthony Martial has been excellent for you: three shots, three goals, two goals a game, a goal every 44 minutes. How hopeful are you that he is going to be available for you at the weekend? 
''I can’t say in this moment. It’s too early to say something about that. We have to wait, we have to see how it progresses in the coming hours. Of course, we hope he will be available but if not, we do it with other players because it’s always about the players who are available and we have a good squad, as you see, and also subs can make a difference. If he is not available, then we have to do it with other players. We will have 20 in the squad and they have to win this game.''

One of your players is going to be celebrating a big milestone if they start the game against Newcastle and that’s David De Gea, who's set for his 500th start for Manchester United. Talk to me a little bit about David De Gea, the man, the senior player, the dressing-room influence… 
''It is fantastic. If you perform in 500 games for a club like Manchester United, that tells a lot about you. The talent, the personality – so that achievement is huge and I really reward that, I value that, and I want to congratulate him [for] that.'' 

He’s a big influence, isn’t he, in terms of driving standards at the football club too? 
''Yeah, sure. He has one of the highest standards. He is pushing everyone every time, and to himself he does what he can, he gives 100 per cent, but that is also what we expect from him – that is the demand. He is an experienced player, he is one of the leaders, so we have to show that to push the team, then you have to be the example by itself.''