Erik ten Hag has called on his Manchester United players to match Everton’s “fuel” in what is likely to be a hostile Goodison Park atmosphere on Sunday.
Everton go into the game with a sense of injustice, having been handed what they perceive to be a disproportionate 10-point penalty for breaching financial rules.
The sanction has drawn condemnation from all sections of the Everton support and will result in a galvanising effect when United arrive on Merseyside looking to maintain their recent improved form.
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Ten Hag, who is banned from the touchline on Sunday, knows the Toffees will have extra motivation and expects his players to match their increased intensity.
He said: “It’s always about us. I can see the opposition and I can see they are mad. If they are mad and that’s their fuel, we have to match those standards. If we do we have a good chance to win the game.”
United have won four of their last five Premier League games and Ten Hag believes his side have turned a corner.
“Definitely, we have seen a turning point,” he said. “We have seen how we have dealt with certain situations. We built on those foundations and now we have to build up.
“It’s a massive month and we are looking forward with confidence. In the Premier League there are no easy games so every team will drop points.”
Victory on our last #PL visit to Goodison Park 💪🔴#MUFC || #EVEMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) NOVEMBER 24, 2023
United’s next three games see them go to Everton, Galatasaray and Newcastle over the next week and Ten Hag is confident his players have the character to thrive.
“We have a week that is very condensed,” he said. “We play three games in six days and as a group we have to deal with that. We have a plan and the players have to take responsibility. It’s about co-operation.
“We have taken a step forward with that recently, we have good away form and we have the strong belief that we know what we have to do to win games.”
United can call upon Andre Onana for this weekend’s game despite the Cameroon goalkeeper returning from the international break with a minor injury while left-back Luke Shaw is also available after three months out.
Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund will be assessed tomorrow.
