Man Utd’s Ten Hag calls Fenerbahce’s Mourinho a winner ahead of Europa League clash

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has praised former United manager and current Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho ahead of their UEFA Europa League match scheduled for Thursday evening.

The two managers will face off in a crucial encounter between Fenerbahce and Manchester United.

Mourinho is preparing to take on his former club, Manchester United, with his new team, Fenerbahce. After leaving Roma in the summer of 2024, the experienced manager made a surprising move to Türkiye, taking charge of Fenerbahce.

Mourinho aims to secure a victory against his old club, as Fenerbahce has shown inconsistent performance in the Super Lig but remains unbeaten in the Europa League.

Mourinho is a winner, says Ten Hag

In his pre-match comments, Erik ten Hag emphasized he does not wish to enter into a rivalry with Mourinho, referring to the Portuguese manager as a “winner.”

“I really enjoy facing him and playing against him. He knows how to win and has won many trophies. He serves as an example for many managers, which is why I will truly enjoy playing against him,” he stated.

Mourinho led Manchester United to victory in the Europa League in 2017, defeating Ten Hag’s former team, Ajax, 2-0 in the final. He also won the UEFA Conference League with Roma and has twice lifted the Champions League trophy with Porto and Inter Milan earlier in his career.

Mourinho faces his former team again after 3 years

Mourinho last faced Manchester United three years ago while managing Tottenham, suffering a 3-1 defeat. This match marked one of his final outings in the Premier League. Now, as head coach of Fenerbahce, the experienced manager is set to confront his old team once again on Thursday, continuing his unbeaten run in the Europa League.

Ten Hag under pressure

Ten Hag is currently facing challenges at Manchester United, as the team has yet to secure a victory in the Europa League. After drawing matches against FC Twente and Porto, the team will play its third match in the group stage.

The Dutch manager aims to alleviate some of the pressure by winning this match. With United experiencing the worst start in Premier League history, a victory would be significant not only for securing their first win in Europe but also for Ten Hag’s future at the club.

Ahead of the Fenerbahce match, Ten Hag shared his thoughts on the team: “Our morale has always been high, but it will improve with a win. Everyone has high expectations for us, so we must win. We need to approach every match with determination. When we win, we will enjoy it for 24 hours and then move on.”

Discussing the team’s objectives for the season, Ten Hag remarked: “Football is about living in the present. The past is behind us; you must prove yourself every day and every season. Therefore, we will continue to work hard, but our goal remains to win a trophy.”