Every word from Ten Hag's press conference: Part one
It's a mark of a manager's progress when he seems to be talking to the media about a big match on a daily basis.
Less than 14 hours after entering Old Trafford's press auditorium to dissect Manchester United's brilliant Europa League win over Barcelona, Erik ten Hag was meeting journalists again, this time at Carrington to preview Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.
"Here we go again, eh?" said the Dutchman with a big grin, as he sat in front of reporters eager to probe him about the fitness of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, and also the prospect of winning his first trophy as Reds manager, only eight months into the job.
You can watch the first part of his press conference below, or scroll further down to read every word...
Ten Hag's cup final press conference Video
Ten Hag's cup final press conference
Press conference part one | Erik discusses Wembley, Rashford's fitness, Martial's injury and Nick Pope's ban...
Hi Erik. How does it feel leading Manchester United into a cup final so early into your reign and how big would winning it be in your side’s progress?
“It's great. As you have seen, we take every game serious. We take every [competition] serious so now we have progress to a final and it’s great to play in a final. But if you play, you want to win.”
Will Marcus Rashford be available for the final? There were some concerns he may have picked up an injury last night…
“I don't know. Players are now coming in. We have to do investigations and medical [checks], and of course yesterday we did. But so straight after the game, most of the time you can't say. We have to wait for 100 per cent diagnosis. So let's do the medical, the work, we have to wait.”
In terms of Newcastle, they’ve obviously progressed hugely this season in the same way you have. How do you rate them and the work Eddie Howe is doing?
“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.”
Annoying? In what way?
“They try to annoy you. So we have to make sure we play our own game and we focus on our game.”
“It's great. As you have seen, we take every game serious. We take every [competition] serious so now we have progress to a final and it’s great to play in a final. But if you play, you want to win.”
Will Marcus Rashford be available for the final? There were some concerns he may have picked up an injury last night…
“I don't know. Players are now coming in. We have to do investigations and medical [checks], and of course yesterday we did. But so straight after the game, most of the time you can't say. We have to wait for 100 per cent diagnosis. So let's do the medical, the work, we have to wait.”
In terms of Newcastle, they’ve obviously progressed hugely this season in the same way you have. How do you rate them and the work Eddie Howe is doing?
“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.”
Annoying? In what way?
“They try to annoy you. So we have to make sure we play our own game and we focus on our game.”
Erik, was last night the perfect way to set up for the cup final? The celebrations with the players and the fans, everybody feeling quite united and together?
“Oh yes, that was a good feeling, that unified feeling. We are really together and that was good. It was a great opponent, because it’s one of the best teams in Europe, I think, Barcelona. [They have a] typical way of play. And if you can beat them that's great. Sunday is a challenge again but totally different, and it is also great to play them. To find a way to play against different styles, different systems. And every time, of course, you want to beat them. Every time to find a good plan and a strategy to beat opponents.”
Bruno Fernandes said that the players can feel that the fans are really invested in this process. They trust it, they believe it, even when there’s disappointing results, they still stick with it. As the manager, can you feel that as well?
“Yeah, definitely. I think we are in a process where everyone believes. We go from game to game. And now we are now looking forward to the next game. You can see the direction and we have to follow that line. Every time we want to improve, to beat the best.”
“Oh yes, that was a good feeling, that unified feeling. We are really together and that was good. It was a great opponent, because it’s one of the best teams in Europe, I think, Barcelona. [They have a] typical way of play. And if you can beat them that's great. Sunday is a challenge again but totally different, and it is also great to play them. To find a way to play against different styles, different systems. And every time, of course, you want to beat them. Every time to find a good plan and a strategy to beat opponents.”
Bruno Fernandes said that the players can feel that the fans are really invested in this process. They trust it, they believe it, even when there’s disappointing results, they still stick with it. As the manager, can you feel that as well?
“Yeah, definitely. I think we are in a process where everyone believes. We go from game to game. And now we are now looking forward to the next game. You can see the direction and we have to follow that line. Every time we want to improve, to beat the best.”
Erik, the team have made good progress already this season under you. But what message would it send out to win on Sunday and how important is it for you to end that six-year wait for a trophy at the earliest opportunity?
“It's a great opportunity to get the silverware in and it's all about that. I think it's about glory and honour in football. We deserved to play the final and now we have a great opportunity to win the cup so we have to put everything in to get that cup to Manchester.”
And that six-year wait is a long time, isn’t it, for Manchester United to be without a trophy?
“Yes, it’s clear, you feel it, the fans are really waiting for it. So we do everything we can to give the fans their honour.”
Newcastle have got an issue with their goalkeeper. It’s likely a goalkeeper who hasn’t played that much is going to have to play. When you’ve got a situation like that, does it change the way you approach the game? Will you tell your players to maybe test him in ways that perhaps you wouldn’t do with a goalkeeper who’s played the entire season?
“It's an issue for them [Newcastle] which they have to sort. And of course we know it. It's definitely not an advantage. But we don’t influence it, they can influence it and the one who is holding [the position] can influence it. And of course we have to test it, that's quite obvious.”
“It's a great opportunity to get the silverware in and it's all about that. I think it's about glory and honour in football. We deserved to play the final and now we have a great opportunity to win the cup so we have to put everything in to get that cup to Manchester.”
And that six-year wait is a long time, isn’t it, for Manchester United to be without a trophy?
“Yes, it’s clear, you feel it, the fans are really waiting for it. So we do everything we can to give the fans their honour.”
Newcastle have got an issue with their goalkeeper. It’s likely a goalkeeper who hasn’t played that much is going to have to play. When you’ve got a situation like that, does it change the way you approach the game? Will you tell your players to maybe test him in ways that perhaps you wouldn’t do with a goalkeeper who’s played the entire season?
“It's an issue for them [Newcastle] which they have to sort. And of course we know it. It's definitely not an advantage. But we don’t influence it, they can influence it and the one who is holding [the position] can influence it. And of course we have to test it, that's quite obvious.”
Reds' Wembley opponents suffer suspension blow
ArticleWhy Newcastle United will be without a key player for next Sunday's Carabao Cup final.
You said about how Newcastle annoy you. Can you be more specific about that? Is it their time-wasting tactics, the way they try to kill the time?
“Yes, for instance. If you see the FA, the referees, they want to play the effective time. So they 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. But also we are then dependent on the refereeing as well.”
Do you think [Nick] Pope’s a particularly big loss because he has been criticised for the amount of time he wastes as a goalkeeper in that sense?
“I'm not in the instructions of the opponents so I don't know and also I cannot influence that. I can only influence we have to make it our game, so focus on our job. 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 from what can be. Whatever is on the pitch, we have to focus on the job and find our way and find the moments where we can strike.”
“Yes, for instance. If you see the FA, the referees, they want to play the effective time. So they 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. But also we are then dependent on the refereeing as well.”
Do you think [Nick] Pope’s a particularly big loss because he has been criticised for the amount of time he wastes as a goalkeeper in that sense?
“I'm not in the instructions of the opponents so I don't know and also I cannot influence that. I can only influence we have to make it our game, so focus on our job. 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 from what can be. Whatever is on the pitch, we have to focus on the job and find our way and find the moments where we can strike.”
Ten Hag's update on Rashford and Martial
ArticleErik has been asked about Marcus, after the striker was substituted during the second half of the Barcelona game.
Hi Erik. First of all, congratulations on reaching the last 16 last night. You’re now the only team that is competing in four competitions this season. Has a key to your success this season been your squad rotation, having your experienced players available for big weeks like this and being able to then help the younger players who are inexperienced in weeks like this? Has that been key to your success and why you’re competing at the highest level in every competition?
“I see it so far as not a success. It's more the road, to hopefully success because it’s only success when you win trophies. On Sunday, we have an opportunity to get the success. Obviously, we have a squad that we use and when you play in four [competitions], you need the squad, you can't do it with eleven [players]. Already in perspective of the load on the players but also from a tactical point of view, we can choose formations where we think we can be most effective.”
Will there be any update on Anthony Martial before the weekend? He’s been training on his own, we noticed, earlier in the week. Will he be assessed or has he any chance of playing in the final?
“No. He will not be available.”
“I see it so far as not a success. It's more the road, to hopefully success because it’s only success when you win trophies. On Sunday, we have an opportunity to get the success. Obviously, we have a squad that we use and when you play in four [competitions], you need the squad, you can't do it with eleven [players]. Already in perspective of the load on the players but also from a tactical point of view, we can choose formations where we think we can be most effective.”
Will there be any update on Anthony Martial before the weekend? He’s been training on his own, we noticed, earlier in the week. Will he be assessed or has he any chance of playing in the final?
“No. He will not be available.”
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