Erik ten Hag disagrees with Rio Ferdinand's Kobbie Mainoo claim as £10m Man Utd sale opens up on exit reasons

Manchester United host Liverpool in the FA Cup this weekend in what remains their only chance at landing silverware this season. Erik ten Hag's side are into the last-eight in the competition after beating Nottingham forest 1-0 last month but will have to be at their best to progress any further.

Sunday's visit of Jurgen Klopp's side to Old Trafford is the final game before March's international break, allowing Ten Hag a fortnight to reset before the Premier League run-in. In the meantime, ManchesterWorld has rounded up some of the latest headlines.

Ten Hag on Mainoo

Ten Hag insists there should be no comparisons between Kobbie Mainoo and anyone else, with the midfielder special due to his unique skill set. Former Reds defender Rio Ferdinand recently likened Mainoo to iconic Dutchman Clarence Seedorf.

"So I think never ever compare players with another player," Ten Hag told MUTV. "Never. Because Kobbie Mainoo, but also other players, they build their own identity. Don't compare with anyone. His skillset, that is so typical. And it's so Kobbie Mainoo, it's nothing to do with other players.

"Of course, he can learn from other players, especially from great players as Clarence Seedorf was. But Kobbie Mainoo is Kobbie Mainoo. He has big potential and I'm quite sure he will have a big career."

Pereira on United exit

Andreas Pereira has admitted a desire to prove doubters wrong was key to his decision to leave United. Pereira joined Fulham for around £10million back in the summer of 2022, having played 75 times for the Reds but rarely been a key first-team starter.

The Brazilian is close to reaching that number of appearances for Fulham after less than two campaigns and has become a central threat at Craven Cottage. Five assists has the 28-year-old as their joint-most creative player in the Premier League.

“I wanted to show people that I can play in the Premier League. That I can play at the highest level,” Pereira told Fulham Fix. “When the boss (Marco Silva) called me, he said; ‘I know you have the quality to play in the Premier League. I want you to show it, and I want to give you the chance to do it’. When he said that, it was like a challenge for me.”