Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag on Alejandro Garnacho's apology, Jadon Sancho form for Dortmund, FA Cup replays being scrapped and the challenge of facing Coventry in the FA Cup semi-final
Carrington, Manchester, UK
Carrington, Manchester, UK
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00:00 Hi everyone, welcome to our press conference for our FA Cup semi-final against Country City on Sunday.
00:08 First section in Balgord until 12.30pm.
00:11 Shall we start with Simon?
00:13 What's the mood like in the camp?
00:18 Obviously the victory in the last round against Liverpool was pretty memorable,
00:23 but you've had some frustrations and poor results since then.
00:27 Of course we want to win every game, so when we don't win we are disappointed and frustrated.
00:38 But we know we can beat the best teams.
00:42 We drew twice against Liverpool, we beat them in the FA Cup,
00:48 we played very well against Chelsea, so when we play to our levels we can achieve really high highs.
00:56 Can I just ask you about Garnaccio and that social media thing last weekend?
01:05 I understand it's being dealt with by the club,
01:08 but it kind of suggests that the solidarity in the dressing room is not what it could be.
01:15 I won't point to that.
01:18 Alejandro is a young player, he has to learn a lot.
01:22 He apologised for it and after that we move on.
01:26 You got to the final last year, you obviously lost, which would have been a frustration.
01:33 How much of that is a motivating factor to try and win it this season?
01:39 We were in the final last season, it was last season.
01:43 We want to achieve every season, we want to win trophies.
01:48 We have a big opportunity because we are in the semi-final.
01:52 It's a huge challenge and we know all the problems.
01:58 When you have so many problems you have to find solutions.
02:05 Also for Sunday we will find solutions and we want to go into the final.
02:10 Eric, league position wise, not sure where it's going to end up in mid-May.
02:16 Maybe six, maybe seven, not sure.
02:19 Would winning the FA Cup, as far as you're concerned,
02:22 would that salvage what's been a disappointing season?
02:25 You have to always see the circumstances you have to face.
02:32 But I'm not thinking in this moment about this.
02:36 I'm thinking about Sunday, how we go to beat Coventry City.
02:42 It's all about this and the rest is for later.
02:45 Of course we are planning for next season, but for now,
02:49 in this moment in the season, it's all about Sunday.
02:52 What do you know about Coventry and what do you know about Mark Robins?
02:56 We did our job and we are prepared.
03:02 We know their team, we know how they play,
03:06 we know the individual abilities of the players.
03:09 Of course we know the manager, a former United player, a striker.
03:15 He's a long period there, he's doing a fantastic job over there.
03:19 We know a lot about them.
03:22 Are they dangerous? Being a championship side,
03:25 is there that possibility that your team may underestimate them?
03:29 Of course they are dangerous, they are in the semi-final.
03:33 Then it's logical.
03:36 Their last season they were that far away from promoting to the Premier League.
03:42 So they do a fantastic job over there.
03:45 We have seen the game against Wolves in the quarter-final.
03:50 The mentality in the team is fabulous.
03:53 So we have to play to our best levels.
03:58 Eric, was the team new? Are any players back?
04:01 Is Anthony going to be back?
04:04 Yeah, Anthony and Scott.
04:07 I expect them to be back.
04:10 Scott didn't train all week, he parked on Wednesday.
04:18 Today I expect him to be full. Anthony did train the whole week.
04:23 Can I ask for your reaction on the semi-final replays?
04:28 Some of the club's most famous games have been FA Cup replays.
04:32 I was wondering what your opinion on that is.
04:35 It's very sad for the British football culture.
04:41 But I think it's also inevitable.
04:45 No-one can do anything for it.
04:49 It's due to the overload in the shadow that's dictated by FIFA and UEFA.
04:57 England is part of UEFA.
05:02 We are a big competition.
05:05 We have a big influence and impact in FIFA and UEFA.
05:10 But there are so many other countries that are making the football shadow.
05:15 There is so much overload on the players.
05:19 We talk about this issue so often.
05:22 It has to stop.
05:25 I feel really sorry and sad for the clubs in England football.
05:31 But for top players, this is a measure that can make some space in the shadow.
05:38 There's been some criticism of Casemiro, especially compared to how he played last season.
05:45 How do you see his situation, the way he's playing and his future at the club?
05:50 We needed a six when I arrived here.
05:56 And last season, Casemiro was fantastic.
06:01 I don't think he scored so many goals as well.
06:06 But as a six, holding midfielder, as a static yeast, he was so important for the team.
06:14 This season, he struggled with some bad injury.
06:19 He never had it in his career.
06:21 But I know he is such a winner.
06:25 See his career.
06:27 All his career, he always won.
06:30 Everywhere where he was, there will be success.
06:35 I trust he will give us success.
06:40 I know he needs games.
06:43 He will be better.
06:46 I'm very confident about him.
06:49 He's a fighter.
06:51 That's why he won the big trophies.
06:54 He's a personality.
06:56 He's a very important player for us.
06:59 As I say, he will give us success.
07:01 Another key player last season was Christian Eriksen, who starts in the FA Cup semi-final and the FA Cup final.
07:07 He's not really played a lot since the turn of the year.
07:11 Is that purely because of Kobe Mane's development or are there other factors at play?
07:16 I think that is the main reason.
07:19 Kobe, his progress.
07:23 We have an extra option.
07:26 He was so important for us.
07:28 He's playing in that sixth or eighth role.
07:34 He brings creation to the team.
07:39 He brings composure in our possession game to the team.
07:44 I think that is the main reason why Christian has less minutes than last season.
07:50 Have there been any more injury setbacks since last week or is everyone fine from the Bournemouth game?
07:56 No.
07:58 We have some problems, but as I already said, Harry came against Bournemouth.
08:04 He struggled.
08:06 He had an issue.
08:08 He had a small injury.
08:10 He didn't train this week so far, but now he's back on the pitch.
08:15 We expect him back in team training today.
08:19 He will be available, I hope, for Sunday.
08:23 Did we see in the Carabao Cup final last season what it meant to Casemiro to be here and still be achieving trophies?
08:34 He's won Champions League and everything, but that day he seemed very emotional about getting the Carabao Cup for Man Utd.
08:41 That's a very good question.
08:43 I think that game, and not only that game, but also how we achieved the Champions League was such an important factor.
08:54 On that day, he makes a difference, with his header, of course, but also in how we read the game and how we control the game.
09:09 With the Champions League this week and with Borussia Dortmund going through,
09:14 have you been monitoring Jadon Sancho and how he did?
09:17 Does that alter anything in terms of his future here?
09:21 Of course, I follow international football and we always follow the players who are on loan in other clubs.
09:29 It was a fantastic game.
09:33 Dortmund have Atletico Madrid and great performance from Dortmund.
09:39 Also, for Jadon, it's good news because he made his contribution to the result for Dortmund.
09:49 In terms of him and Manchester United, has anything changed in terms of the way he's played for Dortmund at all?
09:58 No, but we know Jadon Sancho is a fantastic football player.
10:03 So that is not a surprise for us. That is not the issue.
10:10 you.