Ten Hag talks up the De Jong derby
United boss still hooked on the one that got away
ERIK TEN HAG did his best to feign ignorance, but the laughter in his voice rather gave the game away. So why couldn’t he convince Frenkie de Jong to sign for Manchester United last summer?
‘I don’t know that we wanted him,’ replied Ten Hag with a little chuckle.
What he said next revealed exactly why Ten Hag and United wanted him — and why it’s quite possible that they could have another go at signing De Jong this summer.
‘Frenkie is an incredible player,’ said Ten Hag. ‘He would strengthen every club in the world because he has a unique quality. If you can get him in the squad, your team will be stronger.’
If things had worked out differently, De Jong could have been lining up as a United player this evening. An agreement was in place between the two clubs over a £63million deal but the Dutchman chose to stay with Barcelona, partly because he couldn’t reach a compromise with the Catalan giants over £17m in unpaid wages.
So Ten Hag and De Jong will be on opposite sides at the Nou Camp, where the United manager will have to find a way of blunting a player who prospered under him at Ajax.
‘We had a class in 2019 that was a team with a lot of fascination,’ added Ten Hag. ‘In Spain, Frenkie became even better. He’s a fantastic player. He plays out from the back, he always has time and it was a pleasure to work with him.’
De Jong’s decision to stay appears to have paid off. He is back in the team and playing some of his best football as Barca have gone to the top of La Liga after an unbeaten run of 12 games, including 11 wins.
United’s form is not too shabby, either. Ten Hag’s side have suffered just one defeat in 17 matches in all competitions, including 14 wins.
Which is why it’s such a pity that the prize at stake here is a place in the last 16 of the Europa League. UEFA’s preference for staggering the kick-offs in its secondary competition means that one of the greatest match-ups in football will get under way at the preposterously early time of 5.45pm in the UK — a slot usually reserved for games in the darkest corners of Eastern Europe.
‘Barcelona and us would have preferred to play this match in the final,’ said Ten Hag. ‘Both clubs have the ambition to be in the Champions League, and impact the Champions League to go beyond the group stage.
‘But the reality is we are in the Europa League. Both clubs needed a reset and we are both on a journey and going in the right direction. We’re excited to face each other.’
Barca boss Xavi was more blunt, basing his argument on the fact that United ended up in the Europa League by finishing sixth in the Premier League last season, and Barcelona by dropping out of the Champions League after a disappointing group stage.
‘At the end of the day, we are playing in the Europa League,’ he said. ‘We don’t deserve to be in the Champions League and neither do they.’
Either way, there is no escaping the history around this fixture. Xavi, of course, was a key figure in the Barca team who beat United in the Champions League finals of 2009 and 2011.
United overcame the Catalans in the semi-finals en route to lifting the trophy in 2008. They have never beaten Barcelona at the Nou Camp before, but it will always have a place in club legend as the scene of their 1999 Champions League fairytale against Bayern Munich.
United arrived here yesterday without Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer, who are suspended, and Antony, Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial who are injured.
At least Casemiro’s domestic ban doesn’t count in Europe. The Brazilian has proved to be an inspired signing since he arrived last summer.
‘I think it’s been quite obvious to see how important he is to the team when he’s not been playing,’ said Luke Shaw last night.
‘He loves to win the ball and tackle — we always say to him that he likes to give the ball away so he can go and win it back!’