After Manchester United drew 1-1 with FC Twente in their Europa League opener, Christian Eriksen did little to improve the mood with some post-match comments which caught the eye for all the wrong reasons.
Eriksen sensationally claimed that Twente ‘wanted it more’ than his Man United side. It is one thing to question the manager’s tactics, but it’s another to suggest that his players are simply lacking the fight or the ambition to go out and win games in front of their own supporters.
But, despite securing all three points in only one of their four games competitions since, the veteran playmaker feels that the atmosphere is changing a little behind the scenes.
After Andre Onana and Harry Maguire helped secure a draw at Porto and Man United kept Aston Villa at arms’ length, Ten Hag relieved some of the pressure on himself with a superb second-half display during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Brentford.
And Christian Eriksen, speaking ahead of Thursday’s trip to Fenerbahce, feels that the Manchester United squad is in a better place now – mentally-speaking – than they were a month prior.
Christian Eriksen highlights change at Manchester United
“Yeah, I think there has,” Eriksen tells a pre-match press conference when asked if there has been a change of mood in the camp.
“I think that confidence is a big part of things. When you draw or when you lose, the confidence is down a bit.
“And when I spoke [after the Twente clash], it was probably heat of the moment a little bit. It felt like we lost. But I do think the group is getting together. We have played some good games since and, obviously, we want to win every game possible.
“When you play at United, that is the aim.”
A highly experienced Fenerbahce side coached by a man who knows United better than most will certainly provide a stern test of Eriksen’s words.
Jose Mourinho labelled Ten Hag’s Man United side one of the Europa League favourites this week, while hailing the faith shown towards the Dutchman by Old Trafford’s new decision makers.
Ineos continue to stand firm behind their manager, Ten Hag remaining in situ beyond the October international break.
But, like Mourinho before him, a couple of cups will not be enough to distract from poor league form so long as a talented Red Devils roster continue to underperform.
Erik ten Hag sets out Europa League ambitions for Man United
“I think we have enough players in the team that are so experienced. Our team is so experienced,” Ten Hag says, desperate to claim a first Europa League win of the campaign.
“I think we’re looking forward. I think it will be a great ambience [in the Fenerbahce stadium]. That’s fuel for the team and it’s a real challenge. It’s a motivation. It’s really good for us.
“We won domestic cups after [Mourinho] left but Man United didn’t win in Europe. It’s also, for us, a target that we want to achieve and we have a big opportunity this season. But, of course, we have to qualify [for the knockout stages]. We have to win games.
“We have two points, so we know what we have to do. We have to win games.”
Man United crashed out of the Champions League in the group phase last season, only a few months after David de Gea’s disasterclass brought an end to their Europa hopes in Seville.
“The season we just started, we’ve had some good draws. The first season, I think, there were a lot of European games. Last season, obviously, in Europe,was a difficult journey,” Ten Hag adds.
“But we are confident we are capable of doing this, of winning games in the Premier League and in Europe.”
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