Erik ten Hag: Carabao Cup success vindicates stubbornness that led him to accept Manchester United job | Football News

Erik ten Hag says stubbornness led him to accept the Manchester United job despite knowing the move “maybe was a risk”.

The Dutchman expressed his love for the club and desire to make his own history after leading United to their first trophy in six years, beating Newcastle 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final, just seven months into the premiership of him, after quickly changing her form. after a troubling start.

Ten Hag had to make big decisions such as the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and the removal of team captain Harry Maguire from the starting line-up, but he changed the culture at the club and his move from Ajax is already paying off.

“Maybe it was a risk [to take this job] but I’m a bit stubborn. I just love United,” he said. “When I see our shirts, when I see the boundaries with the fans, when I see Old Trafford, when I see the benefactor Sir Alex [Ferguson] gone and so many great players developed in United teams makes a big impression.

“We want to do the same, this team wants to write its own history and its own legacy. When this opportunity came, I thought this was the right club for me.”

United arrived at Wembley having lost just once in their previous 20 games, sitting third in the Premier League and still close to the title race. A midweek win over Barcelona in the Europa League, followed by cup success just three days later, proved United are firmly on the right track.

“Silvers show that you are on a good path, in a good direction,” Ten Haag said. “It’s a cup and it’s February, but it shows that we are [going] to the right direction.

“That should be the inspiration, the motivation to continue on this path and improve. Be happy for 24 hours but not be satisfied because that leads to laziness. When you become lazy you don’t win any more games and you can’t win trophies”.

Ten Haag was pictured dining with Sir Alex Ferguson during the week, while owner Abram Glazer attended the final, with both guests in the dressing room to join in the post-match celebrations.

“He was very happy for the club as an owner,” Ten Haag said. “He really wanted to be a part of it, you could feel it when he was in the dressing room. He was very good there, he had to show his intentions.

“The way he was there shows he is committed to the process. What he wants is not for me [to say]I have to lead this team and others at the club are involved in ownership decisions.”

Of the dinner with Ferguson, Ten Haag added: “It’s a dinner that shows we’re good and that he’s really involved and committed to this club. We can all learn a lot from him and what he’s done for Manchester United. It’s an inspiration to us all.

“It’s an honor to share my thoughts, talk about football, talk about how he leads locker rooms, teams and strategies, etc. It’s great that he wants to share that not only with me, but he wants to give it to Man United and we’re very grateful for that.”

United are also in the FA Cup and the potential for a quadruple remains, although Ten Haag is focused solely on Wednesday’s tie with West Ham.

“It’s a chance, it’s possible. That can be your inspiration, but you have to believe it,” he said of the possibility of lifting more silverware. “It will only come if you do the right things. If you work really hard, if you stick together, then things are possible.

“But you have to go from game to game, you can’t look too far ahead and dream because it will distract you. The focus has to be on the job. One hundred percent focus is necessary to get the right results.”

Ten Hag revealed the players would be celebrating the cup win on Sunday night and the boss himself hopes he can dance more in the future after showing off his moves with Anthony and Lisandro Martinez.

“We have history together, Licha (Martinez) and Antony in Amsterdam we did a little dance,” Ten Hag said. “I hope they can do it more in the future, but therefore we have to sacrifice and suffer every day to win trophies.

“You have to let them celebrate those moments because it’s not business as usual, it’s not an ordinary day, we’ve won a trophy. This trophy means something, that’s the feeling I get here in the UK. We’ve won something, we have to celebrate it, but after that point you have to move on.

“Wednesday is a big game and from our perspective every game is a big game. You can’t win when you’re not 100%, we have to do everything to win this game.”

What’s next?

Manchester United they now turn their attention to the FA Cup, with West Ham visit to Old Trafford on Wednesday. start 19.45. Erik ten Hag’s side then face another huge challenge on Sunday when they face off Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League, live Sky Sports; start 4.30 pm

of Newcastle the next game is to the champions City of Manchester on Saturday; start 12.30 pm Afterwards, I hosted on Eddie Howe’s side Wolves on Sunday, March 12, live Sky Sports; start 4.30 pm