Manchester United’s Europa League opponents FC Twente are optimistic of pulling off an upset at Old Trafford.
Playing at the Theatre of Dreams on a European night is the ultimate experience for any player, and Twente’s stars know they are in for a wild ride this week.
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United host the Dutch side in the opening Europa League match, with all the pressure on the home side.
Twente warmed up in style, winning 5-0 at the weekend – although they were subsequently warned that United would punish them for giving up too many chances.
Twente stars look forward to dream clash
Twente defender Bart van Rooij was asked what his dream outcome might be when his side take on Manchester United.
Speaking to Twente Insite, the right-back joked that his preferred outcome of scoring a hat-trick is not viable, saying he would settle for a 1-0 win instead.
He said: “It would be my dream to score three times at Old Trafford, but I don’t think that’s very realistic, haha. I’ve never scored two goals in a match.
“I hope we get through the opening phase well and play compactly as a team. Around the 75th minute, we make it 1-0 in a counterattack. I don’t care who scores.
“In the last fifteen minutes, we survive the Manchester United storm by fighting for what we’re worth.”
Goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall agreed: “I want to play an important role. The dream scenario would be that we’re 1-0 up and I make a great save in the last minute. I don’t care how or from whom I stop the ball. We have to dare to go for a good result.”
‘Not a school trip’
Twente’s players are insistent they are coming to challenge United, and won’t be there just for the experience, perhaps unlike Barnsley last week.
Former Norwich striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel says he wants his team to put in a performance to I especially want us to be able to say afterwards: “We gave everything and got the maximum out of it’.
“Because let one thing be clear: we do not see it as a school trip, otherwise we would have booked a stadium tour.”
The term ‘school trip’ was also a phrase manager Joseph Oosting referenced in a press conference.
He was quoted via Tubantia: That is absolutely not the case. There is no one in the selection or in the staff who says: ‘Great, a trip to Manchester. I don’t want to hear it either.
“We have a lot of respect for the opponent, but we have the absolute will to create something great. We learned from the match against Salzburg, that was also a very strong opponent, comparable to Manchester United.
“I don’t think now: ‘This is the biggest match, I think it is an important match.'”
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