Manchester United's Sofyan Amrabat recalls Erik ten Hag advice that stuck with him for years

Sofyan Amrabat has recalled a piece of advice Erik ten Hag gave him about mindset and attitude while working together in the Netherlands, a phrase that has stuck with him throughout his career.

The new Manchester United arrival played under Ten Hag at FC Utrecht between 2015 and 2017 and both were eager to reunite this summer. The midfielder arrived on deadline day on a loan deal from Fiorentina that cost United an initial €10m.

United have the option to make his switch permanent by triggering an option-to-buy clause of €20m plus €5m in add-ons. Amrabat could make his debut against Brighton in 10 days’ time and ahead of that possibility, the player sat down for his first interview as a United player.

In it, he referenced a phrase Ten Hag used to inspire him at FC Utrecht. When asked by club media how he likes to relax, the Moroccan said: “To tell you the truth, not much. Because when I was played at FC Utrecht, Erik ten Hag once said, ‘football is a way of life’.

READ MORE: Amrabat explains he wanted to play under Ten Hag again

“And I think that’s the truth because you have so many games, so outside football you are still busy with football because you have to recover, eat well, etcetera. So football is a way of life.”

Amrabat has been brought in to support Casemiro at the base of the midfield. The 27-year-old underlined how he is a personable character away from the field but laser-focused once he crosses the white line, be that at Old Trafford or Carrington.

He outlined: “Outside the pitch I am relaxed, I love to laugh. But inside the pitch I’m a winner, I want to develop everyday. For me when I go to training, I want to learn and be a better player than I was yesterday.”