Every word from Erik ten Hag ahead of Man United’s semi-final clash vs Nottingham Forest in Carabao Cup

Manchester United will face Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash on Wednesday evening.

Erik ten Hag’s men could place one foot in the final of the competition as the Dutchman aims to end the club’s six-year trophy drought in his first year in charge at Old Trafford.

The United manager conducted his pre-match press conference for the Carabao Cup clash and discussed the importance of winning silverware, team news updates and more.

How has the team reacted after Arsenal loss? “We’ve left it behind. We’ve set the right conclusions and then we have to move forward, and quickly because tomorrow’s a big game. So, focus [is] on that.”

Team update? “The players who were not available for the Arsenal game – so Dalot, Martial, Sancho – are also not available for tomorrow.”

How important is winning a trophy? “It’s about that, it’s about winning trophies. 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 win that game.”

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What was the effect on you and your players when you won your first trophy? “It was the best feeling what you can have, winning a 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. It gives you confidence. 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.”

Do you know the last time United played at The City Ground? “Well, it’s a long time ago that United played there. But I think we like that, a fanatical audience, it’s nice to play for. It will be a good atmosphere, I think that will motivate the players and we have to get ready for that.”

Is the ‘lax’ shown against Arsenal a major concern? “No, because in a lot of games I think we defended very well. We have had a lot of clean sheets. Against Man City, we defended very well. I think in general also against Arsenal we defended very well. I don’t think they got clean shots, there was only one time that was from a free-kick. But for the rest, they were only shots from distance when we had a lot of defenders from us in between the ball and the goal. And that’s what I meant after, all the goals were avoidable and so it can’t happen. That was my point, when you concede three goals in a top game, it is very difficult to win the game. That is what happened so that is one of the conclusions. So, it can’t happen. We set that conclusion. We talked about it, we showed them. We have to learn and to take this lesson.”

Do you prefer the heavy schedule as it shows United are successfully competing on all fronts? “As you said, it is obviously because we are successful and we are in a good direction. Not successful, but successful for the moment because in January you don’t win trophies, not even in February, but in March [late February] we can win one, so we have to aim for that and go for that. But it’s more about getting in the right positions when it’s April to go for trophies.”

Updates on Anthony Martial’s injury troubles? “He has to work on that (staying fit consistently). In that fact I agree. He has to be more available. He can’t do nothing for it in that sense, it’s sometimes also bad luck. But sometimes you don’t know also really the cause, what the reason behind it is. But when he is there, he’s really important for us because we play our best football when he is available. He has to be aware of that as well. If we want to be successful, we need him. And the first thing is he has to be available.”

Do others have a stronger mentality to make themselves available? “I don’t want to set that conclusion. What I said is that no one is the same. I can’t see and I can’t point to a cause, what it is, because if I had, I would work on that process to get it turned around.”

How would you assess Antony’s form? “I think… every time… he’s not losing games. When he’s playing [full games], the team is winning. That already gives a message of how well he is performing. He can do better, I see space for improvement. For instance, and I think also you know this, we want him to be more direct and be more involved. But as I said, the team is performing better if he is on the pitch. That’s a good thing, that’s a good base to build further. I think he has already made an improvement. In his first three games, he scored three goals. Now he was scoring against Everton, he was scoring against Charlton, so also that fact, he has an impact. But I think with his capabilities, with his talents, he can do even more. But as I said, I think he has [made] a good contribution in the team.”

Are his teammates, like Bruno Fernandes at Selhurst Park, getting frustrated with him? “I think that can happen. They are both players who play with the heart and when they bring that in the game, they are on their best so it’s always a kind of balance. And always between players, sometimes emotions flare up but I think in the second moment they are already good with each other so that is not a problem. I think definitely the players are not frustrated with him.”

How important is it for United to keep Marcus Rashford and how are contract talks going? “I can’t answer. I don’t think… of course it’s confidential, the talks between clubs and players. I think he understands Man United is his club, that’s first, but also, in this environment, in this team, I think he is playing his best football. He’s improving and that’s about him because he’s working on the good things, he’s giving 100 percent energy in it, he has a good plan and I think also in this team he can bring in his qualities. So this team can help him get in the right position to score goals where he’s good at, so also in this team his qualities are coming in front. I think he knows that but definitely he’s important for us and if we want to get the success we want, we need him.”

PSG were interested in the summer… do you think he’s absolutely at the right club to reach his ambitions? “I hope all our players are getting interest from other clubs because it means we’re doing a good job and the team is outperforming, so that is what we are aiming for. Then I would say this is the best place to be because we want to construct the best team, first in England and then in Europe, and then in the world.”

Is there an extra incentive for you and the players to end United’s trophy drought? “Sure, 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.”

Will it not bring extra pressure too? “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.”