Ten Hag: Newcastle is another kind of challenge
Manchester United are set to face Newcastle United in the final of the Carabao Cup on Sunday, with kick-off at 16:30 GMT.
Our opponents at Wembley will be without two of their goalkeepers - Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka. Pope is suspended for the game after receiving a red card in Newcastle's Premier League loss to Liverpool last weekend, while Dubravka is cup-tied, having represented the Reds in the competition during his loan spell at Old Trafford earlier this season.
The boss acknowledges it's a far from an ideal situation for the Magpies, saying: “It's an issue for them [Newcastle] which they have to sort. And of course we know it.”
Erik's counterpart Eddie Howe is therefore set to select either former Liverpool stopper Loris Karius, who is yet to make a competitive appearance for the Magpies, or Mark Gillespie, to play in goal.
“It's definitely not an advantage [for them]. But we don't influence it, they can influence it and the one who is holding [the position] can influence it.“But of course we have to test it, that's quite obvious.”
While our opponents' goalkeeping situation is a topic of conversation externally in the build-up to the final, Ten Hag is primarily focused on finding the right plan to overcome what is sure to be a stern test at Wembley.
“Sunday is a challenge again but totally different [to Barcelona], and it is also great to play them,” he told reporters in Friday’s pre-match press conference..
“I think it's a great team, with a clear philosophy of how they want to play the game.
“The key word is intensity, they are doing really well. They are an annoying team to play against, so we have to find a way to win [against] them.
“We want to find a good plan and a strategy to beat our opponents.”
Highlights: United v Newcastle
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Asked to elaborate on his previous answer, Erik highlighted a challenge that United could have to overcome from Newcastle, before explaining how we can go about doing so.
“If you see, the FA, the referees, they want to play the effective time. So they [Newcastle] have the lowest in the league. They are quite successful with it, so it's up to us that we get speed in the game.
“We have to focus on playing football when the ball is in the game, it’s about that. So stay fully concentrated on that and don’t get distracted – we have to focus on the job.”