In his first season as Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag has shown that he understands what it means to be in charge at such a big club.
The Dutchman also understands that Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat to Newcastle – but that doesn’t change anything as far as we are concerned, knowing that our own reputation means that every opposition gains extra motivation when they play us.
United take on Spurs in the Premier League tonight at 20:15 BST. The hosts go into the game after losing 6-1 at St James’ Park at the weekend and they know a defeat would take them out of the race for top four.
Missing out on Champions League football could ask serious questions of Harry Kane’s loyalty to the London outfit, with England’s all-time record scorer linked with a summer move up north to Old Trafford.
Speaking to club media for a Q&A ahead of the trip to London, Ten Hag stressed the need for his players to raise our own levels against Spurs.
“I think taking responsibility is one of the things you can expect and demand from a player at Manchester United,” Ten Hag told ManUtd.com.
“If you are in this place, you have to do it and, of course, you have specialists and you have others that are less [comfortable], so we judge that during the season, we train that during the season and all the penalty takers, they were really great. They were so convinced and [they were] really great shots.”
Ten Hag added: “It is not about Spurs, it is about Manchester United. It can never be that a team we are facing is more hungry as we [are]. So make sure, that is my demand on the players, be ready for that game. It’s the same. Show why you are wearing the shirt of Manchester United. Then you have to be front foot and our players know that. Every game is the same, everyone wants to beat Manchester United, so then you have to be really alert and really focused and ready for that game because Spurs will play at the highest levels, so we have to play our best football if we want to beat them.”
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