Every word from Ten Hag's press conference: Part two

The Manchester United manager was speaking to the media ahead of Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup fourth-round tie at Newport County (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

The manager also had questions put to him about matters off the pitch and respecting England's oldest cup competition. 

You can read everything the Dutchman had to say to reporters in part two of his press conference below...

You said you've spoken to Ineos about the direction of the club and you singing from the same hymn sheet, and there's going to be great change. But have you spoken to them about your situation at the club in terms of a timetable for a new contract? You'll be down to the final 12 months in the summer. Have you spoken to them about that?
“We speak about many, many subjects but I can't go into detail on any subjects, especially when it's going into personal. But first and most important is that it's about the club. It's about the club, about the team and we have to work there on the highest standards to achieve our targets. It's not about any individual person.”

We know the players are proving themselves that they deserve to be part of the ongoing rebuild, revolution, call it whatever. Do you feel that you're still proving yourself, with new investors there and in charge of football matters? Are you proving yourself still and what needs to be achieved this season to constitute it being a success?
“Well, when you are in top football, I think you will know you have to prove yourself every day. And so that counts for everyone here working for this club.”

When you took the job on, in that first press conference you held, you talked about how eras can come to an end. With Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool, it kind of feels like that is happening. With the appointment of Omar Berrada, with what Ineos are doing in their first couple of weeks here really, does it feel like this club is now putting themselves in a position to really make the most of any advantage of Klopp leaving, maybe Pep [Guardiola] leaving [Manchester City] next year? Does it feel like you're really getting things in order now to take advantage of that and that era coming to an end?
“We have to look to ourselves and keep working about reconstructing this club. And we know we need to be better. Last season we were overperforming, in the summer I think we were in a very good place. I think no one could expect what we achieved last season. And now we have a downfall and we have to stop this. But I think it belongs to a project. Regarding Klopp, it's great that you can keep the initiative, that you keep everything in your own hand, to step down in the moment you want it. And so when you want, there's an era that has come to an end.”

Given the sort of distractions you've had to deal with since you became manager, like the Ineos buyout, basically, do you think the club would be challenging for the title without you having had to deal with these sorts of things? It can't be helpful.
“That's difficult to say, just hypothetical, so [it] doesn't make sense to talk about this. Talk about where we are and the current situation in actuality. But be aware that you are in a traject and we have to follow the process. Sometimes you have the downfall and you have to turn it around, and we have now to work for that.”

All top clubs, all successful clubs have a sort of firm professional structure, don't they? You know, Manchester City is a massive example. So it's almost impossible without that, right?
“I think it's… I agree with you that it’s so important that you have a foundation.”

Erik, a lot of people in this room will remember the last Man United manager to win the FA Cup was Louis van Gaal and a few minutes afterwards, he got replaced by Jose Mourinho. It's different people running the club now. Do you think that the FA Cup is more respected by maybe Manchester United now than then, when even winning the cup wasn't enough to keep the job?
“I think [at] Manchester United you have to win trophies at the end of the day. And of course, Champions League is the most important with the Premier League. But then every trophy, every competition where you take part of, you have to win and that should be the mentality in this club.”

Because if you win two trophies in two seasons, that's impressive isn't it? That would be impressive…
“But in this moment, don't dream of that and think about the next game, 100 per cent focus on that and not thinking about winning the FA Cup at this moment.”