Fresh off an impressive win against Barcelona, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has now turned his attention to Newcastle. The two Premier League teams will meet in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. Ten Hag talked about his upcoming opponents during the press conference on Friday.
The Manchester United manager praised Newcastle’s rising team, but also admitted that the Magpies were annoying to play. “I think it’s a great team with a clear philosophy on how they want to play the game,” Ten Hag told reporters.
Ten Hag Claims Magpies Use Time-Wasting Tactics
“The key word is intensity. They do that very well. It’s an annoying team to play against, so we have to find a way to win. They try to annoy you. We have to make sure we play our game and focus on our game.”
Ten Hag was then asked what exactly he meant by the “annoying” comments. “For example, the referees want to play effective time. They have the lowest casualties in the league and they are doing quite well”, explains the coach. “So it’s up to us to get speed in the game, but we’re also up to the officiating.”
According to the BBC, Newcastle currently keep only 52.3% of the ball in play during Premier League matches. Only Leeds (51.8%) have a lower percentage in England’s top flight. Manchester United keep the ball in play 57.3% of the time under ten Hag.
Manager reveals that Rashford is a doubt for the cup final
The United manager also added that Marcus Rashford might not be fit enough for Sunday’s big game. Rashford left Thursday’s match with Barcelona due to an apparent leg injury. When asked about the England international’s availability, ten Hag admitted he wasn’t sure.
“I don’t know. So, the players are now coming in. We have to do investigations, medical of course,” ten Hag said. “We have to wait for a 100% diagnosis, so we have to wait.”
The Carabao Cup final on Sunday is accessible from the United States on ESPN+ starting at 11:30 am (ET).
Photo: IMAGO/PA Images
