Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag hits out at the media fallout to their FA Cup semi-final victory and also previews their Premier League clash with Sheffield United
Carrington, Manchester, UK
Carrington, Manchester, UK
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00:00The reaction to Sunday is almost as though you lost the game rather than actually got to the FA Cup final.
00:11Can you understand that, given how the game went?
00:16No, absolutely not. You made it off and no-one asked the question,
00:24is it embarrassing? No, the reaction from you was embarrassing.
00:30Why do you say that?
00:32Well, it is the comments in football, top football, it's about results.
00:37We made it to the final and we deserved it, not only by this game but also the other games.
00:46We lost in 20-minute control, also had a bad look, 3-2, 3-3.
00:52We were very lucky in the end, clear, the penalties were very good.
00:57We made it to the final and that is a huge achievement.
01:02Twice in two years is magnificent.
01:06For me as a manager, four Cup finals in four years.
01:10So the comments are a disgrace.
01:15Jason Wilcox was at the game, he was announced as new technical director on Friday.
01:22Over the next month, how closely will you work with him to determine the future direction of the Football Club?
01:29Very close. We have to form a partnership, very important.
01:37We are a little bit behind in the process, so we have to catch up.
01:42We will go and speed up the process.
01:47Did you pick up any more injuries at Wembley?
01:51Have you got any players coming back for this game?
01:54We had a problem with Canaccio, that's why we took him off during the game.
02:01But I think he will be fine.
02:04Scott McTominay, we have to assess today.
02:08That is really doubtful.
02:11Marcus Rashford was also doubtful.
02:15And then there was an issue with Bruno Fernandes with a hand.
02:21But I think he can make it.
02:23So we have some doubts going into the game for tomorrow.
02:27With six Premier League games left, Champions League qualification looks really hard.
02:33So I wonder what your priority is and your aims are for the remainder of the Premier League season?
02:38Getting to Europe?
02:40Yes, but we have to win every game. We know that.
02:44That's what United stand for. That is our approach.
02:50Go from game to game, but we have to qualify for Europe.
02:55And we have now two opportunities, that is over the league and in the FA Cup final.
03:01Erik, just after that Nottingham Forest statement, just away from Manchester United at the weekend,
03:08what have you made of other Premier League clubs questioning the integrity of officials in the Premier League?
03:15You can't do that.
03:18You can agree, you can disagree.
03:24So the handball for Wan-Bissaka is totally wrong, a mistake.
03:31But you can't question it.
03:34So I will not do it.
03:37It's not good for the game.
03:44So the refereeing, we should respect them.
03:48And this is no respect.
03:50Just talking of respect, Anthony's celebration following victory on Sunday,
03:56was deemed to be very disrespectful by many in the game.
04:00Did you see it that way? Did you think that was the case?
04:03And have you spoken to him about it?
04:05But did you see the reaction of Harry Maguire?
04:08Yes, very respectful.
04:10Yes, and he was provoked and he should not react like this.
04:16Yes, he was provoked.
04:18That's why this was a reaction on that.
04:20So you haven't seen that provocation.
04:22You only see the reaction.
04:24But he should not do it.
04:27But also I have seen Harry Maguire straight after.
04:32And as others, because we should acknowledge the performance from Coventry to come into that final.
04:42And then to come back and also see that we are 17 minutes totally dominating the game, by far.
04:51And creating many chances.
04:53It must have been.
04:58The game is closed.
05:01But the return from their side was very good.
05:06Eric, do you know Jason Wilcox at all?
05:09Have you had a chance to spend any time with him yet?
05:11And what do you think of his footballing philosophy?
05:14Yes, I met him yesterday.
05:17First time.
05:19So we had some talks.
05:21So this week we will not have so much time.
05:23But from Monday on we will go quick forward.
05:28And of course I know his profile.
05:30I know his merits in youth.
05:33A lot of experience there.
05:36And then one year he was at Southampton.
05:39So I know his background.
05:40So I'm looking forward to our partnership.
05:46Eric, for a game at the weekend that you were so in control of for 65-70 minutes,
05:51what do you put the rest of the game down to?
05:54Is that a lack of concentration from the players?
05:57I know you got over the line and you won the game.
05:59But it's happened in two or three games over the last month and a half.
06:04I know that.
06:06So first of all, the most important thing we can do to put ourselves in a winning position
06:13is by good structure.
06:16And we have seen that on many occasions.
06:20By really good structure, as you see for instance in the first goal,
06:24but also in other games.
06:26But then of course you have to bring the game over the line.
06:32There are more issues.
06:34Something has to do with mentality, something also physics.
06:38We don't have the tools in this moment as well because we don't even have...
06:43We have already a back four.
06:45We have to really make compromises and be really creative to construct that back four.
06:50But then we can't replace players.
06:54We can't sub-play there as well.
06:57So what you need is a full squad.
07:00Then you can take your messages from the side and repair things.
07:08But also it's a matter of mentality.
07:12Also some game reading.
07:15When the opponent takes more risk, then we have to improve.
07:20But as I say, you also need a full squad to repair that.