Erik ten Hag and Diogo Dalot addressed the media on Monday ahead of Manchester United’s crucial Champions League clash against Copenhagen.
Two defeats from the opening matches against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray in Group A, leaves United with an uphill battle to progress to the last 16 of the competition. It means that taking three points in Tuesday’s clash with the Danish champions could be imperative for United’s chances of finishing in the top two.
Copenhagen have picked up a point from the first two matches, losing to Bayern but gabbing a draw against Galatasaray. The Turkish side are also on one point after the first two matches, while Bayern have earned six following back-to-back wins. Therefore, three points for United on Tuesday could see them move up to second place in the table.
It’s set to be a poignant occasion at Old Trafford following the sad passing of Sir Bobby Charlton at the weekend. The club will pay their respects to the 1966 World Cup winner on Tuesday and also began Monday’s press conference with a minute’s silence.
Ten Hag spoke compassionately about Charlton ahead of the Copenhagen fixture and of his legacy at United.
The United boss was also quizzed by the Danish media about Christian Eriksen’s lack of starts in recent weeks, and about the impact of former Copenhagen star Ramsus Hojlund, who could come up against his younger brother, Oscar, at Old Trafford.
Here are the best bits from Ten Hag’s pre-match press conference…
![“[Sir] Bobby was a legend. A giant. Not only for Manchester United but for football. His legacy was [massive], so what he left were the standards. The high standards we have to live every day and of course, first of all, our thoughts are with his family. With his wife, with his children, with his grandchildren but what he meant for Manchester United, the importance. The standards he set we have to live and the last couple of days, they were emphasised.”](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/10/23/15/GettyImages-1750866873.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
1. Remembering Sir Bobby
“[Sir] Bobby was a legend. A giant. Not only for Manchester United but for football. His legacy was [massive], so what he left were the standards. The high standards we have to live every day and of course, first of all, our thoughts are with his family. With his wife, with his children, with his grandchildren but what he meant for Manchester United, the importance. The standards he set we have to live and the last couple of days, they were emphasised.”
![“I said it also last Friday, Sergio [Reguilon], he got ill for Saturday. He was fit. He trained all week last week and yesterday he was for part back in training. Today he will train and then we have to assess if he is ready and game fit or if he can be involved in the squad. We have to wait for that.”](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmNlZjc1NTE4LWVjNWMtNGEzZS1iYTA4LTdkOGRjNzRjMmEyMjo1NTc3NGU3OS0yMzFjLTRlNjktOThjNy02ZDgxYzRmZDM2YmM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=776)
2. Injury latest
“I said it also last Friday, Sergio [Reguilon], he got ill for Saturday. He was fit. He trained all week last week and yesterday he was for part back in training. Today he will train and then we have to assess if he is ready and game fit or if he can be involved in the squad. We have to wait for that.”
3. Is Copenhagen game a must win?
“We have to win every game but if you see the group, yeah, if you lose the first two games then definitely you have to win, yeah.”
4. Glimpses of Hojlund’s potential
“He missed the first four games but from the moment he came in, he gave the team a lot. But when the routines, the combinations and the co-operation will be better, I think that split moment will give him more time and make better decisions to score more goals. I think he is a player he is always in scoring positions in our team and I am sure, I am confident as well as for Marcus Rashford, the same. They will always, in every game, when we as a team do what we have to do, they will always be in scoring positions. Then it is about the finishing. “