Q&A: Erik issues Reading warning

Paul Ince’s men beat Watford 2-0 in the third round to make it to this stage of the Emirates FA Cup but that win is the only one they’ve recorded in 2023 so far.

Despite that, and United’s convincing victory over Nottingham Forest last week, which eases the pressure on Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, the Dutchman isn’t taking anything for granted, promising a ‘strong selection’ for the 20:00 GMT kick-off…

Erik, after a fantastic win on Wednesday, what’s the challenge like to calm things down and get everybody ready for the next challenge?
“It’s a different competition, so it’s about one game. With a draw, it can be two games but we want to avoid [that]. It’s knockout, so it’s do-or-die and I like such games but you have to be ready for that, and fully ready, because it’s a tough game.”

Cup football is special. You got to play in front of the away United fans travelling on Wednesday – did you enjoy that experience?
“In every game [there are] many United fans but I have the experience now and know that cup games are special for them. They give a different ambience in an away stadium and it was a great experience.”

Playing against Championship opposition can be tricky, but against Burnley in the Carabao Cup we saw your team play very professionally. Will the messages be similar this time?
“It’s a different opponent and you can’t compare any opponent with each other. Their approach will be tough and we have to be ready for that. It’s quite normal and it’s their moment to get recognition, to put a marker in the season, and we have to be ready for that. At Old Trafford, we are looking forward to every game until now and it is a great environment, a great ambience, so we’re looking forward to tomorrow as well and we have to give our best.”

What’s the team news ahead of the visit of Reading?
“I think we have quite a fit squad but there are obviously issues in the squad, especially when you have to cover as many games as we have. We have to see which team we pick tomorrow, but it will be a strong selection because we are aware of the strength of the opponent.”

The full-backs have been performing at a very high level – all four of them. How impressed have you been with the way Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tyrell Malacia have come in for the likes of Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot?
“I think what you see is Diogo and Luke play on a really high level but it’s good to know that the depth in the squad is so good that those two come in and they can compete for their position, with Luke and with Diogo. That is very good for a squad, that the internal competition is there. Everyone has to give their best to be in a team and to play a lot of games, but also from a tactical approach they are different types of players, so sometimes we can pick a player for the tactical approach.”

And just like you did at Ajax, nurturing young talent is a great skill of yours. We’ve seen Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri get opportunities recently – how impressed have you been with the pair?
“I never, never let players get opportunities – a player has to deserve opportunities and they’re doing that by performances on the training pitch, by performances when they are on the pitch on the match day. That’s what I expect and they did quite well. We have seen Garnacho already over a long period and Pellistri is now coming in. Now he also gets the experience to be in men’s football. He did some really good stuff and we’re happy with that but also I hope he knows that he has to step up to be often chosen, to be often on the pitch and so by deserving that position. Therefore you have to perform every day and every minute you get.”