Manchester United must make the most of the home advantage to get the three points from this crucial Champions League fixture.
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Manchester United have an important Champions League date against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night. The Reds are in desperate need of three points after losing the opening two matches in the group. They first lost to Bayern Munich away, it was a result many predicted keeping in mind United’s poor start to the season. However, the shock loss to Galatasaray in the next game rang alarm bells at Old Trafford.
Next up is a must-win contest against FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford. Manchester United must make the most of the home advantage to get the three points from this crucial Champions League fixture. However, since the weekend, the thoughts of United supporters have largely been about the demise of their club legend Sir Bobby Charlton. Understandably, the pre-match press conference started with this topic.
Asked what has the atmosphere been like, Erik ten Hag, quoted by the club’s website, said, “As you say, [Sir] Bobby was a legend. A giant. Not only for Manchester United but for football. His legacy was [massive], so what he left were the standards. The high standards we have to live every day and of course, first of all, our thoughts are with his family. With his wife, with his children, with his grandchildren but what he meant for Manchester United, the importance. The standards he set we have to live and the last couple of days, they were emphasised.”
The conversation then shifted to the all-important game on Tuesday night, as ten Hag provided with an injury update. He was asked if any players were likely to return from injury for the contest. “Yes we hope. I said it also last Friday, Sergio [Reguilon], he got ill for Saturday. He was fit. He trained all week last week and yesterday he was for part back in training. Today he will train and then we have to assess if he is ready and game fit or if he can be involved in the squad. We have to wait for that,” he replied.
Even though United lost their last Champions League game to Galatasaray, the one positive from the fixture was the goals scored by Rasmus Hojlund. Ten Hag was asked if that game offered a glimpse into the real potential the striker currently possesses. “So first of all, we have to focus on our routines. He missed pre-season, he missed the first four games but from the moment he came in, he gave the team a lot. But when the routines, the combinations and the co-operation will be better, I think that split moment will give him more time and make better decisions to score more goals,” he started.
The manager further added: “But I think the goals you reference against Galatasaray were definitely two brilliant goals. As well, also the one in Munich. But I think he is a player he is always in scoring positions in our team and I am sure, I am confident as well as for Marcus Rashford, the same. They will always, in every game, when we as a team do what we have to do, they will always be in scoring positions. Then it is about the finishing. When you analyse all the games so far, we have seen that they are in scoring positions.”
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