Man Utd's Ten Hag relishing Europa League clash with Mourinho
Erik ten Hag
said he is relishing this week's Europa League showdown with Jose Mourinho,
calling the former Manchester United boss "an example for many, many
managers".
United head to
Istanbul this week to take on Fenerbahce, meaning a reunion with Mourinho, who
joined the Turkish club in June following his sacking by Roma.
The Portuguese
is one of the most decorated managers in history and while he proved a divisive
figure at United during his tenure from 2016 to 2018, he won the League Cup and
Europa League.
United are under
pressure after drawing their first two fixtures in this season's Europa League
but manager Ten Hag is looking forward to pitting his wits against Mourinho on
Thursday.
"It's a big
game for both of us," he said at the Football Writers' Association
Northern Managers Awards dinner on Sunday.
"I really
enjoy facing him and playing against him. He has always good teams, he is a
winner - he (has) won so many trophies -- I think he is an example for many,
many managers."
Despite leading
United to FA Cup glory at the end of last season, Ten Hag is again under
intense scrutiny after an poor start to this campaign -- they are 11th in the
Premier League with just three wins in eight games.
But the Dutchman
accepts the pressure comes with the territory.
"It is
football, you have to live for now," he said. "(What happened) is in
the past, you have to prove (yourself) every day, you have to prove yourself
every season, so we have to go for it.
"We are in
the start of the season and we will see where we end but our target is to win a
trophy again."
Some of the pressure
on Ten Hag was eased on Saturday as United came from behind to beat Brentford
2-1 at Old Trafford, with Rasmus Hojlund scoring the winner.
Having shown
promise in a stop-start first campaign with United, Hojlund has had an
injury-disrupted start to this season and his goal at the weekend was his first
in the Premier League since May.
But now Hojlund
is inching closer to full fitness, Ten Hag believes the 21-year-old Dane will
continue to excel.
"He will
always score," Ten Hag added. "What is important is he is keeping
fit. He picked up so many injuries in the first season and when he stays fit,
he will score goals because that (is) proved (in) his stats."
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