Ten Hag keeps focus on Manchester United display and not Haaland threat

As Erik ten Hag plots what would be a significant derby victory – for Manchester United’s development and possibly the Premier League title race – he is intent his players do not focus solely on the threat posed by Erling Haaland.

But his views about the striker’s qualities are instructive. “I like his attitude. How he is on the pitch,” the United manager says. “He’s direct, his life is about goals – he goes direct toward the opponent. He can also create but [while] I respect him, we are not playing against Haaland, we are playing against Man City, but it is not about Man City. I respect the opponent but it is about Man United.”

Jadon Sancho is a former Dortmund teammate of Haaland and Ten Hag has sounded the winger out about City’s big summer signing. “Of course you talk with your players,” says the 52-year-old. “When someone has played in the past with a particular opponent, you ask him. They can give more details. But it is also our job to look at them in advance. If an individual makes a huge contribution, we have to analyse them as a staff.”

There is little doubt the 6ft 4in goal-machine will be all fired up to follow his father, Alf-Inge, who played in both fixtures of the 2000-01 season when a City defender. Alfie’s memory of the derby, though, is coloured by Roy Keane’s notorious scything down of him in a 1-1 draw at United in April 2001. His son, who has never offered public comment about the incident, is more willing to discuss his own derby bow.

“It [will be] the first time I’ve played in the Manchester derby after watching so many on TV with my father and I cannot wait,” he says. “It will be a special moment for me. It is another game, but I also know derby games are so much more intense. These games mean