Every word from Erik ten Hag ahead of Sevilla Europa League second leg

Erik ten Hag has spoken to the media ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League second leg against Sevilla.

After Sevilla left Old Trafford with a 2-2 draw last Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final, Manchester United will look to better their Spanish opposition in Seville.

Own goals from Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia saw Erik ten Hag’s men blow a comfortable 2-0 lead in the final 10 minutes of the fixture.

Read More: How to watch Sevilla vs Manchester United (Europa League) – TV channel, live stream, kick-off time

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s crunch match, the Dutchman was quizzed on the fitness of four key players and how his team will deal with the intense atmosphere.

Ten Hag on Marcus Rashford’s current fitness level
“He had one training session with the team but he had some individual sessions before.”

Ten Hag any injured players (Tyrell Malacia, Marcus Rashford, Marcel Sabitzer and Luke Shaw) be available to play Sevilla
They are available because that’s why they’re on the airplane,” Ten Hag told reporters in Seville. I will take my decisions tomorrow, today we trained and we will see what the reaction is and then tomorrow we will take a decision. You always want to keep players fit, which is the main objective, besides of course the main objective: win the game.”

Ten Hag on progressing as a team
“We want to compete with the best and know we have to progress even more.”

Ten Hag on David de Gea’s recent form
“Stopping goals – that is the main job for a goalkeeper. Everyone has their own particular style. Nowadays, in possession, it has become more and more important at the top levels. But at the end of the day, it is about stopping goals; shots; crosses; one-on-ones. I think David is a complete goalkeeper.”

Ten Hag on how they will deal with Sevilla’s home crowd and atmosphere
“You have to use motivation as a tool and control it. The timing of that is important. In big games especially, you have to know how to use it. We need to focus on the game and play the best game we can.”

Ten Hag on how they can deal with Sevilla
“Our organisation all over the pitch is quite good. We need to do better attacking. I am confident that we can score goals tomorrow.”

Ten Hag on if they had leant their lesson from the first leg
It is clear how the game went. It is a tie of two legs, I think we played for over 60 minutes quite well and the last 30 minutes we dropped a level and we became passive. It is not acceptable, we know that, you see what happens when you only play a game for 60 minutes. You can’t do it and when you do it you get punished. We have to be aware of it, we have taken the lesson on Sunday (against Nottingham Forest) and you have seen a different Man United but tomorrow we have to go again. I said also in the development of our team, emotion, you have to use it is a tool but you have to control it as well and put it in the right moments. The timing of it is important and in big games especially you have to know when you use it and definitely not. So, in general, I made that point. Focus on the game, play the best game you can as a team and as an individual.”