Ten Hag previews Twente game

As opposed to the former set-up, where teams would be separated into groups of four, all 36 sides in the tournament will go straight into one league, competing in eight games to decide who advances to the knockout stages.

Speaking with club media in an exclusive Q&A, the Manchester United boss also covered his thoughts on facing his former club, FC Twente, and how he plans to continue our run of three consecutive clean sheets.

Keep scrolling for a full read through of everything Ten Hag had to say...

Erik, a really important game for Manchester United and a significant game for you: 234 times you played for FC Twente. You were there as a coach to develop your career. Just how special is it for you and how much are you looking forward to welcoming them to Old Trafford?
"Well, we very [much] welcome them, of course, FC Twente, everyone from the board to the staff to the players especially, we are really looking forward [to it]. Not to forget the fans, and they come with a lot over, because football is so popular in the region where I live, where I was raised. So yeah, Manchester will notice this tomorrow, but we have to win. And Manchester United, that is what I represent, but also I feel part of this club. And now I have to beat my former big love."

I heard you say in the press conference, you're still a fan and you like to watch them as a fan, which is great. It just shows, that's football, isn't it? You're still going to support that team when they're not playing United?
"Sure. That is where you have to get away from, from the love you feel for the region and the club where you feel connecte with. But I have to do my job and we have to win, and we want to make the next step in the process. And so as a team, we want to improve and I have to put all my effort in to get this done."

They're fourth in the Eredivisie right now and won 5-0 at the weekend. What can you tell us about the team?
"About FC Twente? I can tell you probably everything, but it's with all the respect, and they do so well and they have such a good philosophy. And the manager nowadays, he has done a great job. It's a very collective team. It's a very good spirit in the team. Also, good strategies they have. But yeah, we have to win. So we will make our game and we want to bring in our ideas and we know all our game model. And now we have to find the right plan to beat FC Twente."

Your thoughts on the new format of the Europa League?
"Yeah, it's tomorrow we have our first impressions. Last week, I followed the Champions League in the same format, and it looks like every game is significant and every goal is significant. Even so, we know what to do. We have to win tomorrow because it's the first match in this league and we have eight games to go. So you have your first home game and you have to win this game."

And what's the team news ahead of the match? Any changes from the weekend?
"No, no. We have still a training [session] to go, but as far as I see it now, the players who were in the squad from last Saturday, they will be available for tomorrow and we will pick a team from the squad."

At the weekend, we had enough chances to win the game. Unfortunately, we didn't, but the clean sheet again — now three in a row — shows how well the defence is doing right now...
"I would say how the defending is doing right now and yeah, we have to keep this process going — that everyone puts [in] 100 per cent effort and be disciplined in following the rules from defending, because that's a base to win football games. And yeah, everyone was disappointed with the result in Crystal Palace. But yeah, the clean sheet was a good thing. And also the creating of chances was also a good thing. And now we have to become more, I will say, killing in the box."

Just finally, we're about to hear from Noussair Mazraoui. He knows FC Twente very well. How impressed have you been with how quickly he settled in?
"I know, let's say I knew, how good a player he is, and I think he improved even a lot from his period in Germany. And he's even a better player than I had in Ajax. His development as a player and as a person is tremendous and impressive. So I hope that he keeps this process going."