"It's not about credit, it's about trophies"
Erik ten Hag has reiterated that winning silverware, rather than plaudits, is his primary focus as Manchester United manager.
His resurgent Reds are rightly receiving positive reviews at the moment, as the only club in Europe's top five leagues still competing for four trophies. But even if the praise wasn't forthcoming from all corners of the media, it seems unlikely the manager would concern himself with such matters.
The two biggest games of the Dutchman's debut season so far will both be played in the next few days and at his pre-match press conference for the first one, Barcelona at home in the Europa League play-off, Erik was asked if he felt the team was getting enough credit.
"It's not about credit, it's about trophies," he responded strongly.
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"We have to go from game to game as the focus, but especially, you have to keep in the same mindset that every day we want to give a better version of ourselves.
"When you are facing such big teams as Barcelona, you have to play your best, otherwise you don't have a chance. So, we want to get through, to get to the next round and we have to give the best performance from this season. We believe in it, we're looking forward to it, so it gives us a lot of energy."
It was put to Ten Hag that Thursday's showdown with the current La Liga leaders will be his most significant match in European competition since the spring of 2019, when he famously led his former club Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals.
"For me, the next game is always the biggest game," said the manager. "I'm not the type that's looking back, I'm looking forward. So I am totally excited for tomorrow.
"Two big, great teams facing each other, at Old Trafford. It will be a massive atmosphere, a great ambience. I think it is the best you can get."
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As for whether he could have expected to be in a final - in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle United at Wembley - and facing one of the biggest clubs in the world, Barcelona, so early in his Old Trafford tenure, Ten Hag replied:
"Yeah, definitely. We all want to play big games, big matches. When we were young, we dreamed of it.
"We are now in a position, it's still February, but big games are coming up and we are really enjoying it, looking forward to it and excited.
"We have to give our best because we want to match with the best."