'Annoying' - Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag questions Newcastle time-wasting tactics

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has described Newcastle as an "annoying" team and queried their time-wasting ahead of the League Cup final.

Newcastle have reached their first cup final since 1999 and are striving to win their first trophy since 1969 at Wembley on Sunday while United have gone nearly six years without silverware.

United were frustrated by Newcastle in their 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in October and goalkeeper Nick Pope has an infamous reputation for time-wasting.

Also read: Fred proved Xavi right

Pope is suspended for the final after he was sent off for a deliberate denial of a goalscoring opportunity in last week's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool and fourth-choice goalie Loris Karius is set to start.

Although Newcastle have slipped down to fifth in the Premier League table, Ten Hag was complimentary about their progress under Eddie Howe but also keen to highlight their gamesmanship.

"It's a great team with a clear philosophy about how they want to play the game," Ten Hag said. "The key word is intensity. They do really well, they're an annoying team to play against, so we have to find a way to win. They try to annoy you. We have to make sure we play our game and focus on our game."

When it was suggested Newcastrle are "annoying" for their time-wasting, Ten Hag replied: "Yeah. For instance, so if you see from the FA, the referees want to play an effective time. They have the lowest in the league and they are quite successful with it. So it's up to us that we get speed in the game and we are also then dependent on the refereeing as well.

"I'm not in the instructions of the opponents, so I don't know (if Newcastle will miss Pope's time-wasting). Also, I can't influence that.

"We have to make it our game, so