'Football is not decider on paper' - Erik ten Hag not taking Reading lightly in FA Cup

Manchester United expect Reading to be highly motivated for Saturday's FA Cup meeting and will not take their second-tier opponents lightly, says manager Erik ten Hag.

United have won five out of their seven games in 2023 and are fourth in the Premier League standings.

They have also reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and the Europa League's knockout stage, and are favourites to beat Reading in their FA Cup fourth round clash at Old Trafford on Saturday.

"Football is not decided on paper. We have to be ready for every game. Every opponent will be tough, especially in the FA Cup. For them it is a perfect chance. We have to be on the front foot and fully focussed," Ten Hag told reporters.

"We want to win every game. We play every game fully. The next one is always the most important. We have a good squad, we can cover things."

United will play nine times in the next month, starting with the game against a Reading side that features Shane Long and Jeff Hendricks in their ranks before taking on Nottingham Forest in the second leg of a Carabao Cup semi-final and facing Barcelona twice in the Europa League.

Ten Hag said he was happy with the depth of his squad, and when asked if fringe players like Facundo Pellistri could go out on loan, the Dutchman said, "some players we are open for loans and some we are not because they have to develop in our environment.

"We put on Pellistri (in a first-leg semi-final win over Forest on Wednesday), that is a signal.

"Brandon Williams was in the selection for Wednesday. He is part of it. It is also up to him. I like him. We have to work with him and see where his developments can go. It's up to him to see when he takes his chance. If he wants a loan, we have to talk about that."

Winger