Erik ten Hag addressed the media on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s Manchester derby.
The Manchester United manager was speaking less than 18 hours after the Red Devils’ 1-0 FA Cup win against Nottingham Forest that set up a quarter-final tie with Liverpool. It means United will face the Premier League’s top two sides in upcoming matches, sandwiched either side of the home match against Everton next week.
But it’s table-toppers Manchester City who are Ten Hag’s immediate concern and Sunday’s game is the first derby since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a minority stake in the club. The Ineos lead shareholder was asked about catching City during last week's initial round of interviews and claimed he wanted to ‘knock them off their perch’.
Ten Hag was asked about that comment, and the gap that currently exists between the two clubs. But the Dutchman was keen to point out that his team beat the European champions last year and earned a point at Anfield in December, so are capable of earning big results.
Yet, it was Bruno Fernandes who was the biggest talking point of the press conference, following Fulham’s controversial TikTok video that appeared to mock the United captain and imply he had feigned injury in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Old Trafford. Ten Hag was clearly irked by this and gave a damning verdict of that social media post, while he also spoke about Fernandes’ treatment from referees.
As always, there was an update on the team’s injury news, with the United boss asked about Fernandes and Raphael Varane’s fitness after the pair played 90 minutes at the City Ground having been doubts in the build-up to the game.
Here’s every word for the first half of Thursday’s press conference...
!["They fought to be part [of it] and they came well out of the game. I think they will be available for Sunday as well. And for the rest, I don't think players will return for Sunday, so we do it with the squad from yesterday."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/02/29/16/31/GettyImages-1340109316.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
1. Team news - are Varane and Fernandes fit?
"They fought to be part [of it] and they came well out of the game. I think they will be available for Sunday as well. And for the rest, I don't think players will return for Sunday, so we do it with the squad from yesterday."
2. Casemiro importance...
"Yeah but that passion, desire, determination, that is the base. But definitely when you go into the game on Sunday."
!["Our form. We are also in a good run. This period is very good, we are united. We are in togetherness and make a good gameplan. We have done [well] before against City and also lately against Liverpool, so we will prepare well. The players are ready for it and looking forward to it. I can smell it. I am around here and speak with the players, so we are really looking forward and excited."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/06/24/11/GettyImages-1258398671%20%281%29.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
3. Convinced you can beat City?
"Our form. We are also in a good run. This period is very good, we are united. We are in togetherness and make a good gameplan. We have done [well] before against City and also lately against Liverpool, so we will prepare well. The players are ready for it and looking forward to it. I can smell it. I am around here and speak with the players, so we are really looking forward and excited."
4. Do you fear City?
"They have a good team but there are more good teams. They have won in the last season, so this last year, everything, but we know and that is the challenge. But also Liverpool is a very good team and there are more good teams. We like the challenge and we are looking forward to challenge with them."