Erik ten Hag's Pre-Match Press Conference | United vs Liverpool, Premier League

Chris Wheeler

Erik ten Hag believes his ‘mad and angry’ Man Utd players can use the pain of their incredible defeat at Chelsea to bounce back and beat Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday

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Ten Hag on Sunday's game: ‘We will be mad and angry, and you can take a lot of energy from that, and that is the way we have to do it. We have to recover very quickly. We have to turn this around, so we will be in a positive mood, looking forwards. We have to take energy.’

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Ten Hag accepts that Utd will probably have to win all 8 of their final PL games to have a chance of qualifying for the CL. ‘I think so, yeah. In stoppage time this week (v Brentford & Chelsea), we have dropped five points. It’s very expensive.’

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‘The points are getting more expensive because the games are running out and we know that. We have to catch up and we are now many points behind, so it will be difficult. But we will keep fighting.

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‘We have qualities. We have great players. We can play very high standards. You can see against Liverpool and Chelsea. We can compete with and we can beat the best teams in the Premier League. But we need to learn now how to win games.’

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en Hag also insists Marcus Rashford is motivated to help Utd enjoy a successful end to the season despite fresh criticism of the England star.

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Lately his form is progressing. He has a big motivation because he wants to be successful with us. He wants to win trophies and score goals. But he wants to win and to contribute, and we have a chance with the FA Cup.’

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‘He wants to fight for a Champions League spot and the Euros are coming. So his motivation should be high. Before Brentford he scored three goals in three games.’

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Detailed Quotes

https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/erik-ten-hag-key-quotes-from-pre-match-press-conference-for-man-utd-v-liverpool-on-7-april-2024

MARCUS IS MOTIVATED

“I think lately his form is progressing and so the time will always be right. I think he has a big motivation because he wants to be successful with us. He wants to score goals but he wants to win trophies and contribute and we still have a chance in the FA Cup. He wants to fight for a Champions League spot and the Euros are coming so I will say his motivation should be high. And the form, that is a moment and he can change the momentum always. Before Brentford, he scored three goals in three games.”

TOP FOUR WILL BE TOUGH

“In this week we drop in stoppage time five points and it is very expensive. The points are getting very expensive because the games are running out and we know that. We have to catch up and we are now many points behind. It will be difficult but we will keep fighting and I am sure that you see our team, they have character. Today we have seen an example as well. They are resilient and I am sure they will be there on Sunday in the fight against Liverpool.”

MANAGING GAMES BETTER

“For me personally? I have to manage the game and I have to manage the team. You have seen we have qualities. We have some great players. We can be in momentum and we can play at very high standards. We have seen today an example and we have seen against Liverpool. We can compete with the best and we can beat the best teams in the Premier League. And when you beat them in the Premier League, you can beat them across Europe. But we need to learn how to win games - how you bring big games over the line and get the three points. Saturday was an example, today was an example. We have to step up and we have to make better decisions individually and as a team.”

ON TRAGEDY CHANTING

“It’s very important to be behind Manchester United. Support us in a positive way. Cheer us on. I think there is a fantastic bond between the team and the fans. They are always behind us. We have seen three weeks ago in that game against Liverpool how much of an effect and an impact we can have in togetherness, in a positive way on the pitch. We are going for it again on Sunday: a positive mood in Old Trafford.”

USING CHELSEA DEFEAT AS FUEL

“We will see on Sunday [how to beat Liverpool]. But I have to say first I have to deal with this, but we can’t deal with this long. We have to recover very quick. We have to turn this around. So from tomorrow [Friday] on we will be in a positive mood. We will be looking forward. We have to take energy but we will be mad, angry. From anger you can take a lot of energy and that is how we have to do it.”