Ten Hag sets United sights on further cup success

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has emphasised his view of the Carabao Cup as an important competition.

Ten Hag guided United to the trophy in his maiden season in the job in 2022-23, and last term the FA Cup was added at the end of a campaign in which they finished eighth in the Premier League and footballing operations at the club were taken over by Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos.

United host League One Barnsley in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday, and when asked if the bar had risen and the club’s owners needed them to win something more significant, Ten Hag said: "I would say it’s significant.

"FA Cup, Carabao Cup, it’s significant. I see all the attention from all the teams, from all the owners, from all the managers when they win a trophy, like Liverpool last year did, winning the Carabao Cup.

"I saw that final. I saw all the teams battling for it. We want the same. So it’s very important in football to win trophies. You have five opportunities, and our aim is always to win all the games, so win all the trophies if possible."

He added: "No doubt we are aiming for a trophy, this is one opportunity, so we take it (Tuesday’s game) seriously."

United, currently 10th in the fledgling league table with six points from four matches, recovered from back-to-back defeats at Brighton (2-1) and at home to Liverpool (3-0) to win 3-0 at Southampton on Saturday.

Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui both limped off in the second half of that contest, in which fellow defender Matthijs de Ligt was also withdrawn due to cramp.

But all three are fit to be selected for Tuesday, with Ten Hag saying: "They are all available, they are good."

Ten Hag also confirmed Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Victor Lindelof were not ready for the Barnsley