!["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...
!["So I didn’t know this but if they did it I would say it is not right. It is absolutely not right that a club makes such [a] statement because it is totally out of order and they were wrong so they should apologise for this."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/02/24/16/25/GettyImages-2035447053.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
9. Fulham's Fernandes video...
"So I didn’t know this but if they did it I would say it is not right. It is absolutely not right that a club makes such [a] statement because it is totally out of order and they were wrong so they should apologise for this."
10. Where does Fernandes rank in terms of professionalism?
"Very highly. First of all his football skills, he is so creative in the final third, creating chances, absolutely key player, he can score a goal but then also his outputs - his contribution in defending jobs, leading, reading the situation, reading the press but also be the example by running, and running in the right moments and pointing at players around him. He is absolutely leadership by example."
!["No, because there are many more games to play. We are in the FA Cup in a great game [against Liverpool]. After City come many more games and we know we have to catch up but there are also a lot more games to catch up and to get in the right position."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/02/28/15/20/GettyImages-2035578630.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
11. Is this a defining weekend?
"No, because there are many more games to play. We are in the FA Cup in a great game [against Liverpool]. After City come many more games and we know we have to catch up but there are also a lot more games to catch up and to get in the right position."