Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag insists his side have enough quality to overcome Fenerbahce in the Europa League, despite missing several key players.
United will be without captain Bruno Fernandes for the trip to Turkey following his red card in the 3-3 draw with FC Porto, and in-form defender Jonny Evans also misses out.
Midfielder Mason Mount also looks set to sit out as he continues his recovery from injury, while the likes of Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Kobbie Mainoo remain on the sidelines.
Speaking to the media in Istanbul on Wednesday, Ten Hag said: “The players who are available have to do the job and they are capable of doing the job.
“I think we have enough players in the team that are so experienced. Our team is so experienced.
“We’ve faced such situations more often. I think we’re looking forward, I think it will be a great ambience that’s fuel for the team and it’s a real challenge, it’s a motivation, it’s really good for us.”
Istanbul is calling 📞🇹🇷#MUFC || #UEL pic.twitter.com/jCtc3iAiPd
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 22, 2024
In the home dugout on Thursday will be a familiar face to United fans, with Fenerbahce currently managed by former Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho.
And the 61-year-old was in a typically mischievous mood ahead of the game, suggesting he could be a beneficiary in the unlikely event of Manchester City being stripped of the title they won in 2018 if they are found guilty of breaching financial fair play regulations.
He said: “We won the Europa League [at United] and finished second in the Premier League. I think we still have a chance to win that league, maybe they punish Manchester City with points, we win that league. They have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal.”
Mourinho, who spent two-and-a-half years in charge of United between 2016 and 2018, winning the Europa League during that time, spoke respectfully about his former club and Ten Hag.
We have completed preparations for the match against Manchester United. ✅ #UEL #FBvMAN pic.twitter.com/IPBQcsE8C7
— Fenerbahçe English (@Fenerbahce_EN) October 23, 2024
He added: “What happened for sure is that they now keep faith in the coach [Ten Hag], supporting the coach, who is staying season after season. That means stability and means trust, giving him conditions to keep his job. That was a different simulation to me.”
“Maybe you English guys think I’m bluffing, playing mind-games. I’m not playing anything – they have a better team than results are showing.
“They will succeed sooner or later. Hopefully sooner and before one day I go back to the Premier League and they become my opponents. At this moment they are just my opponents for one match.”
Ten Hag responded to the Portuguese manager’s comments: “Mourinho and I, we won a lot of trophies the last years but you have to prove yourself every year and when you don’t win we are always under criticism.
“We know that we are experienced enough. Professional football is about winning games and when you don’t win, the criticism is coming.
“But at the end of the day, it’s about how you are at the end of the year. Mourinho is so experienced, he will lead this team to its best form, he will be successful and so will we. We are convinced we are in the right direction, that we follow the right path and we will achieve what our targets are.”
