Erik: We have to be brave in the derby

Friday 13 January 2023 14:14

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has underlined the importance of his side playing with bravery, belief and in our own way during the Manchester derby.

The Reds face City at Old Trafford in the Premier League’s Saturday lunchtime fixture this weekend, with the opportunity to extend our recent good run and move to within a point of our neighbours with a win.

United have taken maximum points from our three league games since the season’s restart and have shown a continuing development following our last meeting with City – a 6-3 loss back in October. 

Erik says Saturday’s match will be a good test to see how far we have come since that difficult autumn afternoon at the Etihad Stadium.
Part one: Erik's pre-City press conference Video

Part one: Erik's pre-City press conference

Press conference part one | The boss answers reporters' questions on Martial, Weghorst and more, ahead of the derby...

"We have to prove that tomorrow on the pitch and the truth is on the pitch, so [it is] quite clear, last time we didn’t do well so, tomorrow, we have to do better,” the manager told reporters in the first part of his pre-match press conference.

“We have had to work and it’s not only coming overnight. It was a process in the last months where we develop, where we have progressed, and we now have to face it against better teams. 

“We are looking forward to it and that is one of the things is about [our] mental approach, mental attitude, so we have to be brave and we have to act with belief and play our game.”

Since that loss to Pep Guardiola’s side, Ten Hag side have been defeated just once in our last 18 matches across all competitions. 

It’s been a response that Erik has been pleased with, as he strives to see United’s development continue going forward.

"I expressed, honestly, it was a lesson and we took the lesson and, since then, we have made huge progress. We have to continue that progress and the process.

"I think that game was a setback and you can find reasons why but it’s not that interesting.

"It's always about [how] you have to act, you have to deliver and, as a manager and coaches, you have to go through certain steps. You need a clear vision, you need a clear philosophy, you need a clear point where you want to go, a direction and then it's about development.

"It's not about that game anymore, it is about the future. That is the past. The past you can’t change, but you can change the future."

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Summer signing Casemiro came off the bench in the reverse fixture against City before making his first Premier League start in our next outing in the competition, at Everton, a week later. 

The Brazilian has since been named in Erik’s XI for every league game and has gone from strength to strength in a United shirt, with his impact a talking point at Erik’s press conference. 

"That is quite obvious," he said of the former Real Madrid midfielder's influence on our recent fortunes.

"I have said it from the beginning, this team needs a [number] six [a defensive midfielder]. But what is a six? What is the definition. So control, holding midfielder, but he is so important. He is the cement between the stones, I often say, but it means defending, organisation, he knows his position, so anticipating, pointing. He is in the right position, winning balls for the team, duels winning.

"But also in possession, he can accelerate, speed up the game. He is typical, he has that competence to give to a top team on the top level. There are not many players of this quality in the world. He is one of them, so we are really happy to have him on board, because he makes a huge difference."

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