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Photo courtesy of Simon Peach from Press Association.
“I came here [Manchester United] to win trophies, Saturday, the next opportunity we achieved this, we earned this opportunity as a team and now we have to go for it and in the same time in the last two years, of course, after every season you review it and we will see where we are in the project, things we have to change, we spoke lately about it, very good things, players coming up, values coming up and on Saturday we have a big opportunity to win the next trophy.”
“Yes, of course, but my focus is [FA Cup]… until Saturday I only think about this game.”
“I have nothing to say. Just focusing on the job I have to do and that is first win the game on Saturday and then the project, keep going with the project.”
“Every game I want to win and that’s it, I just focus on this game as I do for every game, I know it’s an important game as it’s about a trophy.”
“He looks good. That is a career – ups and downs, a down can also give fuel and that is what I see in training, he will be highly motivated, speak with your feet, highly intelligent, he has had a big career, I’m sure he will get over this and get more goals.”
“Yeah, Harry Maguire is unavailable but for the rest, all of the players you mentioned are available. Tomorrow final training and we make final decisions but the way I see it now it looks good (that Mount, Lindelof and Martial are available).”
When quizzed further if Maguire was definitely ruled out, Ten Hag added:
“Maguire? It (the injury) didn’t heal as expected.”
“It’s all about trophies but you need an opportunity to win a trophy. So last 10 years, not so many trophies in this club, but we have an opportunity to win two trophies in two years.”
The focus at Erik ten Hag’s press conference should be on the FA Cup final against Man City on Saturday. Anyone with a slight bit of interest in football knows it’s a mammoth task for a side that not only failed in Europe this season but finished eighth in the Premier League.
Some of the reporters are likely to throw in questions about Ten Hag’s job uncertainty. We know INEOS have been tight-lipped on the managerial situation and that won’t change days before the biggest game of the season at Wembley. The hacks are hungry.
Other topics likely to be discussed are team news with three players returning to first-team training midweek as well as Harry Maguire being touch and go to make the matchday squad.
Hopefully, there’s some positive news from the manager. We’ve got to take our chances come Saturday and put this season’s form behind us.
Are Manchester United a cup team? I’ll take it, for now.
Updates coming shortly from the manager.
