Erik Ten Hag urges his Man United troops Ten Hag urges Manchester United to stay calm in the Galatasaray cauldron as they battle for survival in the UEFA Champions League.
United, currently at the bottom of group A, faces elimination if they lose in Turkey in their penultimate group fixture on Wednesday. Even with a victory against Galatasaray and overcoming group winners Bayern Munich in their final game, two wins for Copenhagen would see the Danish side progress instead of Ten Hag’s team.
Speaking at a pre-match conference on Tuesday, Ten Hag expressed confidence despite the hostile reception awaiting them in Istanbul.
“We know how to deal with it, and I’m sure tomorrow it will be a confident team on the pitch,” said the Dutch manager. “You have to stay calm in your head and not get too emotional. You need emotion, but you have to control it. Don’t give them anything, or the referee as well. You have to stay away from such moments. We know how to deal with it. You have to play confidently, and you have to make it your game, so it’s not that important how the opponent is playing; it’s important how we are playing.”
When asked about his plans to “get out of hell,” Ten Hag responded, “We have to make it our game, and it’s about creating our own future. Tomorrow is about the future. It’s on us.”
United lost 3-2 to Galatasaray at Old Trafford last month, but Ten Hag believes his team has improved significantly since then, recording five wins in their last six Premier League games.
“It’s good progress,” he said. “We are stepping up, we are more stable, we are winning games, so there is definitely a big difference from the first time we played them.”
United’s record at Galatasaray has been poor, with no wins in their three visits. Rasmus Hojlund and Antony are in the squad for United after recovering from injuries, providing attacking options for Ten Hag, who will be without Marcus Rashford due to suspension.
