Reading boss Paul Ince has praised Erik ten Hag for the way he prepared Manchester United and beat his team in the FA Cup fourth round.
United beat Paul Ince’s team by three goals to one.
All the goals for the red devils were scored in the second half and came with a brace from Casemiro and another from Fred.
Ince spoke to the press after the match, revealing that if the match had been played a year ago, his team’s confidence levels would have been very different.
Ince credited United’s turnaround to Ten Hag and the work he has put in since taking over on the Old Trafford bench.
The Reading manager said: “No disrespect, but if we had played Manchester United a year ago we would have felt we could beat them. Under Ten Hag, he has lifted the whole club.”
“The last two or three years have been difficult for the fans and it seems to me that they are starting to close that gap.”
???????????? Paul Ince: “No disrespect, but if we had played #mufc a year ago we would have felt we could beat them. With Ten Hag, he has lifted the whole club up. The last two or three years have been tough for the fans, and it looks to me like they’re starting to close that gap.”
— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) January 28, 2023
The former United star admitted that Ten Hag’s ruthless team selection caught him by surprise.
The Dutchman fielded a strong team, an indication that he is not taking chances in the cups.
Ince added: “You spend the week thinking ‘is he going to play? Or are you going to play? then you see the Manchester United team sheet and think ‘Jesus, he’s going full speed here.’
✅ Paul Ince: “You spend the week thinking ‘is he going to play? Or is he going to play?’ then you see the #mufc team sheet and think ‘Jesus, he’s going full speed here’.” ????
— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) January 28, 2023
According to Ince, the fact that Ten Hag has chosen his best players as starters is proof that the United manager respects Reading, his players and the coaching staff.
???? Paul Ince: “When you come to Old Trafford you want to play against the best players. The fact that Ten Hag played his best XI shows the respect he has for me, the club and the players.” @BBCSport
— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) January 28, 2023
Ten Hag is likely to rest some of his stars who started against Reading when United host Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Wednesday for the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
