Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is eagerly anticipating facing off against Jose Mourinho and his Fenerbahce side in the upcoming UEFA Europa League match. Ten Hag had nothing but admiration for Mourinho, referring to him as a “winner” and a role model for many managers.
Erik ten Hag Looking Forward to Clash with Former Manchester United Boss Jose Mourinho
Manchester United will be aiming to secure their first victory in the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League season when they visit Fenerbahce for their Matchday 3 showdown on Thursday, October 24. The Red Devils have only managed to gather two points from their initial two matches against Twente FC and FC Porto, while the Turkish team has accrued four points from encounters with Union Saint-Gilloise and Twente.
An intriguing battle will also unfold on the sideline, as current Man Utd manager Ten Hag will go head-to-head with former boss Mourinho. The Portuguese strategist, who successfully led Manchester United to victory in the UEFA Europa League on his first attempt, is among the most accomplished managers in the 21st century, and Ten Hag is excited about the challenge.
Speaking about facing Mourinho, Ten Hag told the Football Writers’ Association, “It’s a big game for both of us. I really enjoy facing him and to play against him. He always has good teams; he is a winner and has won so many trophies. He’s an example for many managers, so I will really enjoy playing against him.”
Mourinho had a tenure of two and a half seasons at Manchester United from July 2016 to December 2018, achieving 84 wins, 31 draws, and 29 defeats in 144 matches.
Ten Hag Wants Man Utd to Prove Themselves Against Fenerbahce
Manchester United secured their first win in five matches over the weekend with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Brentford. Now, Ten Hag is urging his squad to capitalize on this victory.
He emphasized, “The spirit has always been high, but the mood will be better with a win. Everyone has high expectations of our team, so we have to win. We have to go for it every game and be determined. When we win, we enjoy it for 24 hours and then we move on. It is football, you have to live for now. What’s in the past is in the past, you have to prove yourself every day and in every season. So, we have to go for it, and we will see where we end up, but our target is to win a trophy again.”
The recent victory over Brentford has propelled Manchester United from 14th to 11th place in the Premier League standings. They are currently trailing fourth-placed Aston Villa by six points after six rounds of fixtures.
