“We like the pressure” – Erik ten Hag addresses possibility of ending Manchester United’s trophy drought ahead of Carabao Cup semi-final

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has addressed the possibility of ending the trophy drought at Old Trafford ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Nottingham Forest.

Ten Hag, 52, has been in the job for around seven months and looks the most likely to win the club their first piece of silverware for six years.

United comfortably beat Steve Cooper’s side in the Premier League last month and should they repeat that result in their Carabao Cup bouts, The Reds will appear at Wembley in a final for the first time since 2018.

“It’s about that, it’s about winning trophies,” said Ten Hag ahead of the first-leg tie against Forest. “We have a good opportunity, but we have to go from game to game. So now we play Forest, two legs, so focus on the first leg and don’t think further ahead because that will distract. So, the only aim for tomorrow is to win that game.”

There will be help from the likes of Casemiro and Raphael Varane, who have been there and done that when in relation to winning silverware. The latter is yet to lose a cup final that he has played in.

However, importantly, a mid-season cup victory could also be crucial for other United players – who are less experienced in the art of winning when it matters – before they begin to approach the big competitions under the Dutch manager.

“It was the best feeling that you can have, winning a trophy,” replied Ten Hag when asked about the importance of winning that first trophy. “I had the luck in my career to win some trophies and it’s magnificent, especially for the fans. It’s so great.

“I think the fans here, they have some experience, especially the older ones. And now it’s a period when Manchester United didn’t win trophies and it’s too long ago, so we are aware of that fact and we have to do everything to bring a trophy in.”

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Despite the Carabao Cup being dismissed by many from the outside, it remains an important part of the campaign for the top-level managers in the country. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool won the competition last term which ended a four-year winning streak for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

“It gives you confidence,” added Ten Hag. “Once you are winning trophies, that gives you confidence that you know how you do it. And also in the difficult moments, how you stay in the game, how you stay in the game to win games, that you know the chances will come, that you know what you have to do for it, to get there.

“And I think finally winning trophies is mental, to get that, to know how you win that. Winning games is one, but winning trophies is another thing and in those decisive moments, know what to do. It’s a thin line but there I think we grow a lot mentally, but there we have a step to go.”

It would be a big achievement, and a clear step in the right direction, if United are able to win the cup competition next month. It would also breed confidence within the squad as they battle for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

The current drought has been one of the longest in the club’s recent history without silverware and Ten Hag appreciates that this needs to end, “I already said it. It takes too long that this club didn’t win a trophy. It belongs to the club to be winning trophies and so we have to get back on that track.”

Queried on whether there is added pressure on the squad to provide fans with silverware this term, the Dutch manager added: “Pressure belongs… I think we like the pressure and we need the pressure. That’s good. We have to deal with that. It gives us more motivation so that we perform even better.”