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.
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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.”
Arsenal to channel Bournemouth pain into Shakhtar clash, Arteta says
Arsenal will use the hurt from their first Premier League defeat of the season to deliver a strong response in their home clash against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, manager Mikel Arteta has said.
Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Bournemouth brought Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the league season to a shuddering halt and left them third in the standings on 17 points, four behind leaders Liverpool and three behind Manchester City.
Arteta’s side host Shakhtar on Tuesday following a goalless draw in their opener at Atalanta and a 2-0 home victory over Paris St Germain, leaving them 13th in the new Champions League format with four points from two games.
The dismissal of William Saliba at Bournemouth marked Arsenal’s third red card in eight league matches, following earlier dismissals for Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard. Each time Arsenal have gone down to 10 men, they have dropped points.
“We cannot continue to play with 10 men, easier to say it then to get it done in the specific moment,” Arteta told reporters on Monday.
“Reacting (after) we had a defeat (but under) very specific conditions. Let’s move on, take that pain we have and use it tomorrow night.
“We need to eradicate the issue (of red cards), it’s clear. The reasons, how – it doesn’t matter. We have to focus.”
Shakhtar are winless in their Champions League campaign after a goalless draw at Bologna and a 3-0 loss to Atalanta. The team have had to adjust to playing on the road, having moved out of Donetsk a decade ago after pro-Russian separatists seized large areas of the region.
They have been known on a global basis as the city that can make things happen, brings great events, reflects the best of America.
Early in September, two days before they were scheduled to play Kryvbas in the domestic league, their hotel was hit by a Russian missile.
“There is obviously a lot of sympathy for the situation they are in and how can I imagine. The incredible attitude they have towards the situation (in Ukraine) due to the war,” Arteta said.
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino added: “I cannot even imagine what they must be feeling or what life is like for them… we will try to host them in the best manner possible.”