Ten Hag agrees with Guardiola blast but says Man Utd stars 'can't accept it'

02 March 2024 , 22:30

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Erik Ten Hag faces Pep Guardiola on Sunday

Erik ten Hag has urged Manchester United to shut Pep Guardiola up by becoming the new noisy neighbours.

Guardiola insisted before Manchester City ’s 3-0 derby romp at Old Trafford in October that Liverpool had taken over from United as the Blues’ biggest rivals - and Ten Hag has admitted he was right to do so.

But the United boss has now challenged his team to seize the chance to take back local bragging rights when they face last season’s Treble winners at the Etihad - and to show new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that the Reds can knock City off their perch.

Ten Hag said: “For the last decade that’s the way it has gone - and (Pep’s words) are a fair assessment. But we can’t accept it. We have to bounce back, as Sir Jim says. We have to show ambition. We want to be the No 1 - and think that’s a good ambition. Now we must have the strategies to get this done.

“What did I say when I started here? We have to show ambition, we want to be the best - that is what United stands for. But at the same time we know also where we are now.

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“We’ve also seen that there are moments where we go toe-to-toe, so that’s the belief we have as a team. We have to pick up those moments and we have to prove it in every game, and I think we’re able to with this squad we have, that we can go toe-to-toe with them. The short history shows that.

“I have a lot of respect for them (City) - but not the respect that we can think we can’t win this game. On the contrary, we will show that we can win this game.”

Ten Hag has urged Manchester United to shut Guardiola up (Manchester United via Getty Images)

United were hammered 6-3 at the Etihad last season, when both Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored hat-tricks for the champions. Ten Hag was unhappy to be asked whether fans should be worried about a humiliating repeat.

‌He said: “I never understand such questions. Last season has nothing to do with this season. I could also say I look back to the home game at Old Trafford when we won, so it doesn’t make sense.”

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Simon Mullock