Erik ten Hag: Manchester United will need to play 'perfect game' to beat Manchester City in FA Cup final
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Published 23/04/2023 at 21:51 GMT
Manchester United reached the FA Cup final with victory over Brighton. Erik ten Hag's side will meet Manchester City in the final as they look to end their rival's hopes of winning the treble this season. Ten Hag has said United will "give everything" to win the game and has also praised the team for bouncing back from their Europa League quarter-final loss to Sevilla.
'We have to be perfect to beat Man City in the FA Cup final' - Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United will need to play a “perfect game” to beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
United advanced to the final after a tense penalty shoot-out victory over Brighton. The club are bidding to lift their second trophy of the season after already winning the League Cup, while City have the chance to claim the treble.
United beat City in their most recent meeting, coming from behind to triumph 2-1 at Old Trafford in January.
“We have proof [we can beat them],” said United manager Ten Hag.
“We have to play the perfect game, it was the perfect game we played this season, but we have to go again.
“We know that but, first of all, we have to focus on different games because we have to be in the top four, to get into the Champions League for next season."
The FA Cup will take place on June 3 and will be the first time United have played the match since 2018 when they lost to Chelsea.
Ten Hag said fans can trust Manchester United to give 100% to beat City.
“We will give everything and when I say everything, that is everything, more than 100 per cent you can’t do, the fans can rely on that. We want to give that against City, we want to give the fans that,” said Ten Hag.
“I understand, of course, the feelings from the fans about it. We will do everything to give them the second trophy - everything what I have, everything the team has, the staff have, we will give everything to get it done.
“We can do it because we prove it. It’s not easy, though, it’s a great team, but we also have a great team.”
Ten Hag also praised his side for bouncing back from their defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.
"On Thursday, I saw a team I didn't recognise, but today we went back to usual," Ten Hag told the BBC.
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"I could see determination and resilience. We fought for every yard and competed in every battle. We had good chances."
He later added that criticism of the team against Sevilla was “justified”.
“But today the lads deserve compliments and credit because they bounced back once again, they showed character.
“What we have to learn and improve, which must be our next step, is that if we have a setback in a game, we fight back in that same game, that we keep calm and fight back in that same game.
"We have to deal with setbacks and we can do it better, but in between games, and it’s not the first time, we do it very well."
United face Tottenham on Thursday in their next game.
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