Erik ten Hag has weighed in on Manchester United’s gap with Manchester City as the sides prepare for another derby instalment this Sunday.
The Red Devils are on home turf for the first of this season’s Manchester derbies, where they oversaw an emphatic 2-1 victory back in January last term.
Heading into the game, City sit second-placed and United, eighth. Six points separate the rivals and United will know that a win this weekend would be crucial to the team’s confidence and momentum after a lacklustre start to the campaign.
United are on the back of three consecutive wins in all competitions, which have certainly been hard-fought to claim all nine points. Meanwhile, the Blues lost to Arsenal prior to the international break but have since picked up two wins against Brighton and Hove Albion and Young Boys (Champions League) respectively.
With the pride of the city up for grabs, United will also be well aware that should their neighbours lift the title next summer, they’ll make history by being the first team to win the Premier League four years in a row. They must capitalise on any chance they have to prevent that from happening.
Ten Hag on closing the gap
Ten Hag was clear in his desire to close the gap at Old Trafford, saying in his pre-match press conference (via Manchester Evening News): “In this moment they’re six points ahead, we’re six points back, we have to catch up. We know we have to progress the team, make developments. It has to do with the cooperation, the movement around it, we have to work on that.”
