!["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,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=70&enable=upscale)
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...
5. Ratcliffe's claims about knocking City off their perch...
"I think that has nothing to do with each other. But we want to win every game. That is always our mentality and our approach in every game. It doesn't matter who is the opponent. But, as I say, you always want to play against the best. So, most of the time we feel, and you can also see it, the opposition get the best outputs against Manchester United. Maybe this game is the other way around but we know we have to give everything and show a team performance, if we want to get the result. But if you do it, it is possible. That is also what the opposition shows in this moment against Manchester City."
6. What have you learnt from previous games against City?
"We did it in several ways, many ways, and been successful. So, from all the games, we look back. We had the opportunity to win one time and you need a great day. That is also what we know, so the players have to give the best performances."
7. Does Fernandes need more protection?
"So he is a very passionate football player and he’s a very creative one, he has created the most chances in the Premier League. You see opponents are targeting him and especially after Saturday when he had the knock and they see it and then I feel, yeah, the referee should protect him there. They had to change at the start of the game because it was so obvious they were looking for him."
8. Are referees influenced on Fernandes decisions?
"I thought it was definitely on Saturday a foul and it was really misjudged from media, from social media, to blame him for that. That was my point yesterday and then opponents are targeting him and that is not right. I think the referee should protect himself because there were fouls on him, even after the ball was kicked away."