Ten Hag: League Cup still 'significant' for United

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag insisted on Monday that he still believed English soccer's League Cup remained a "significant" competition.

Ten Hag steered United to the trophy in 2023 during his first season at Old Trafford, one of two trophies he's won in his tenure at the club. Last season he won the FA Cup, defeating Manchester City in the final, following a disappointing campaign in the Premier League where United finished eighth — a mammoth 31 points adrift of its bitter crosstown rival.

Many leading English clubs, however, have come to regard the League Cup as an inconvenience that hampers their quest for more prestigious domestic and European honors.

With United facing third-tier Barnsley in the third round of the competition on Tuesday, Ten Hag was asked during a prematch news conference if the club was under pressure to win something more significant now that its soccer operations were under the control of British billionaire and minor stakeholder Jim Ratcliffe.

"I would say it's significant," said Ten Hag. "FA Cup, Carabao (League) Cup, it's significant. I see all the attention from all the teams, from all the owners, from all the managers when they win a trophy, like Liverpool did last year, winning the Carabao Cup.

"I saw that final. I saw all the teams battling for it. We want the same. So it's very important in football to win trophies. You have five opportunities, and our aim is always to win all the games and win all the trophies if possible."

The Dutchman added: "No doubt we are aiming for a trophy, this is one opportunity, so we take it (Tuesday's game at home to Barnsley) seriously."

United is currently 10th in the Premier League table with six points from four matches.

It bounced back from consecutive losses away to Brighton and at home Liverpool to win 3-0 at Southampton on Saturday.

Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui, however, both limped off in the second half of that success on the south coast, with their fellow defender Matthijs de Ligt also withdrawn because of cramp.

Nevertheless, the trio are all fit to be selected for Tuesday, with Ten Hag saying: "They are all available, they are good."

But, the United boss added, Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Victor Lindelof will not return against Barnsley as they continue their respective recoveries from injury, although he refused to rule them out of Saturday's league match away to Crystal Palace.

Ten Hag said that Luke Shaw would also not be involved in the League Cup tie, although he was upbeat about the England left-back's rehabilitation following a calf problem, saying: "He is progressing well.

"Of course, we have a plan in our head of when he can be ready. But, you're always dependent on how the progress will go, and you can't make a prediction, because there are so many factors why a rehab plan can accelerate or slow down."

Manuel Ugarte could make his first United start, after the midfielder came off the bench for his club debut on Saturday.

But, Ten Hag was coy when asked about the possibility of Antony, who has made just one appearance as a late substitute at Brighton so far this season, starting against Barnsley.

"You will see what the lineup will be (on Tuesday)," he replied. "We have training every day, and the players have to earn the right to play."

AFP