Erik ten Hag fires warning to Jose Mourinho after ex-Man Utd chief's subtle dig

There was no welcome to hell when arrived in Istanbul - but insists his team can handle anything that and Fenerbahce’s fanatical fans can hit them with on Thursday night.

United landed in Turkey without 10 players through injury and suspension - and a promise from their former boss Mourinho that they will be tested to the full in the 47,000-capacity Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

The 13-time champions are no longer the force they were. Under they used to be greeted by thousands of baying supporters from the moment they touched down at the Istanbul airport.

But Mourinho would love nothing more than to send Ten Hag home facing another crisis, with the United boss in desperate need of a win after opening the campaign with disappointing draws against FC Twente and Porto.

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Ten Hag said: “We have enough players in the team who are so experienced. We have faced such situations more often, so I think we are looking forward (to it).

“It will be a great ambience but that is fuel for the team. It’s a real challenge and motivation and it’s really good for us. The players who are available have to do a job - and they are capable of doing the job.

“We will not underestimate them - but we also won’t overestimate them. We must play our own game. We love to play in this environment and we are really looking forward to it because every professional footballer likes these challenges.”

Do you agree with Ten Hag?

Ten Hag refused to be drawn into a war of words with Mourinho after the Special One declared that his former team could no longer be regarded as an elite European Cup side. The Portuguese guided United to a Europa League triumph in 2017 - the club’s last success in Europe. But Ten Hag’s team have won just one lot their last 10 European games.

Ten Hag said: “We have won domestic cups after he (Mourinho) left, but Man United didn’t win in Europe. So for us it’s a target and what we want to achieve - and it’s a big target for us this season.

“Of course, we have to qualify, we have to win games. It’s a new set-up and we have two games underway and two points. We know what we have to do - we have to win games.

“This season has just started and we have two draws. In the first season I think we won a lot of European games. Last season, domestically and in Europe it was a difficult journey.

“But we are confident that we can do it, to win games in the Premier League and in Europe.”

He added: “Both Mourinho and I have won a lot of trophies in the last years, but you have to prove yourself every year - and when you don’t win then there is always criticism.

“We know that and we are experienced enough. Professional football is about winning games - and when you don’t win games then criticism is coming.

“But at the end of the day, it’s about how you are at the end of the year. Mourinho is so experienced he will lead his team to their best form.

“We are convinced that we are going in the right direction, that we are following the right path, and we will achieve what our targets are.”

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