Erik ten Hag says Manchester United must keep calm and in control of their emotions if they are to emerge from their ‘Welcome to Hell’ experience at Galatasaray with their Champions League hopes alive.
It is 30 years since the Red Devils’ first trip to the Istanbul giants, who progressed on away goals from that highly-charged encounter punctuated by hostility and intimidation.
United have visited Galatasaray twice in the Champions League since then and are now preparing for a huge clash for both sides amid an ear-splitting backdrop at Rams Park on Wednesday.
The Turkish champions are well placed to qualify having won the reverse fixture 3-2 and Ten Hag knows his side will be unable to reach the knockout phase if they lose the Group A encounter.
“We know we can (win away in Europe) and we are confident,” Ten Hag said.
“The last games away from home in the league were also very hostile environments. We played very well. We were very calm and composed.
“This team also last year in Barcelona (in the Europa League did well), so we know how to deal with it and I’m sure it will be tomorrow a confident team on the pitch.”
Asked if he will stress to his players to keep their heads and remain disciplined, Ten Hag said: “Absolutely. You have to stay calm in your head and don’t get too emotional. You need the emotions but you have to control it.
“That you don’t give them anything, that you don’t give the referee as well at that moment that they’re going to take, so you have to stay away from such moments.
“We know how to deal with it. You have to play confident and you have to make it your game, so it’s not that important how the opponent is playing.
“It’s important how we are playing, how we are dealing with possession, how we are dealing with out of possession, so normal stuff. We will make a good plan but then, at the end of day, the players have to decide, they have to manage the game.”
United have failed to so much as score in their three visits to Galatasaray, who have embraced the ‘Welcome to Hell’ phase made famous in their 1993 meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
There are few more hostile environments in European football and Ten Hag was asked by a Turkish journalist what his plans were “to get out of hell” on Wednesday.
“We have to make it our game and it’s the history,” the Dutchman said.
“Obviously Manchester United has a great history, but you can’t take any guarantee from it in the future, so we have to make our own future. It’s the past, so tomorrow, it’s about the future, so we have to make it our game. It’s on us.”
United head to Istanbul without a variety of first-team players, with Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen among those injured.
Jonny Evans, Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia and Amad Diallo are also sidelined, while Jadon Sancho remains banished from the squad and Donny van de Beek was not registered for the Champions League.
Marcus Rashford serves a one-match ban for his sending off in the 4-3 loss at Copenhagen earlier this month, but striker Rasmus Hojlund and winger Antony are available.
Ten Hag confirmed “they are in the squad” after missing Sunday’s 3-0 win at Everton through injury – a match in which Kobbie Mainoo shone on his first Premier League start.
The highly-rated 18-year-old put in an eye-catching display at Goodison Park and Ten Hag would have no hesitation throwing him in again.
“No, we don’t have fear (of starting Mainoo again),” Ten Hag said. “If players are good enough, then they are old enough.”
'I know my worth and I will show it' – Antony vows to silence Man Utd critics
Manchester United winger Antony has pledged to silence his critics after ending his long wait for a Premier League goal on Saturday, saying: "I know my worth and I will show it."
Antony has struggled since swapping Ajax for Old Trafford in an £86million ($108m) deal last year, only managing five goals and three assists in 52 Premier League appearances.
The Brazilian failed to net in his first 26 league games this season before ending his goal drought against Burnley on Saturday, though Zeki Amdouni's late penalty earned the Clarets a 1-1 draw.
Antony was also roundly criticised for taunting Coventry City's players in the aftermath of United's FA Cup semi-final win over the Sky Blues earlier this month, with the Red Devils inching through on penalties after surrendering a 3-0 lead in a 3-3 draw.
Having struggled to live up to expectations since arriving in England, he was asked by The Athletic whether his price tag had put him under additional pressure, but he says that is not the case.
"It doesn't really impact me because I know my worth," Antony said. "The money is the money and obviously everyone speaks about it, but no one would if the performances were at the top.
"It's just a way of working harder, knowing I can get better, I know my worth and I will show it. The critics are going to exist, and they make me want to work harder and prove it to myself first.
"I'm going to keep working, giving everything for the group because it's most important to have a good mentality and to be focused."
Saturday's draw officially ended United's hopes of a top-four finish, heightening speculation regarding the future of manager Erik ten Hag.
While Antony accepts United have not been good enough this season, he is hopeful they can end the campaign on a high with another FA Cup final against Manchester City to come.
"It's been a very tough year for me and the team, the results are not ones we expected," Antony added.
"I am someone who takes criticism very well and I want to work on it, and I think we all have to focus on finishing the season the best we can.
"We still have five games and we have to think game by game, get better and go into the final in the best way possible to win it."
Bayer Leverkusen's Puerta sets sights on Copa America
Gustavo Puerta's first season with Bayer Leverkusen could not have gone any better and the 20-year-old midfielder hopes his experience with the undefeated German side will earn him a place in Colombia's Copa America squad this summer.
Puerta has made eight appearances this season for Bundesliga champions Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in 46 matches across all competitions under Xabi Alonso.
Leverkusen will play Roma in the Europa League semi-finals and are also through to the DFB-Pokal final.
"This year has been wonderful for me and for my career, I hope to keep winning titles and get minutes at the end of the tournament," Puerta, who has made five Bundesliga appearances, told Reuters.
Puerta enjoyed success with Colombia's under-20 side and has received his first call-up for the national team's friendlies against Spain and Romania in March.
He hopes to make an impression on coach Nestor Lorenzo with the Copa America on the horizon. The tournament takes place in the United States across June and July.
"Being in this team with an undefeated run is very important to be considered for the national team if the coach (Lorenzo) thinks I can contribute," he added.
"We haven't talked much about it, but he told me that he's keeping an eye on me, that he wants to see me play. I hope to get minutes in the end because it is a privilege to be in the national team, I want to wait for the call-up."
The Colombian added that playing for one of the top 10 teams in the world has not only improved his game but also given him confidence in his abilities.
"It helps you mature, spending time with great world-class players on a daily basis and training with them is important, they are very experienced and that makes a difference for someone as young as me," he added.
Puerta said he felt supported by the club and that he would be able to reach his full potential under Alonso.
"It was historic, very nice, very crazy to have won my first title in one of the top five leagues in Europe," he added.
Emotional Thiago Silva confirms Chelsea departure but vows to return 'in another role'
Thiago Silva will leave Chelsea at the end of the campaign, but hopes to return down the line in another role.
Silva, who joined Chelsea as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, has made 151 appearances for the club and helped them win the Champions League, Club World Cup and Super Cup.
The 39-year-old, however, will not be staying at Stamford Bridge for a fifth campaign.
In an emotional interview with the club's media channels, the Brazilian said: "Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here with the intention of only staying for one year and it ended up being four years.
"Not just for me but for my family, too. My sons play for Chelsea so it's a source of great pride to be a member of the Chelsea family.
"I hope my sons can continue with their careers here at this victorious club that many players wish to be a part of.
"I think everything I did here over the four years, I always gave my all but, unfortunately, everything has a start, a middle and an end.
"It's an indescribable love. I can only say thank you."
However, Silva is set on returning to the club once his playing days are over.
He added: "That doesn't mean that this is a definitive end, I have to leave the door open so that in the near future I can return, albeit in another role here.
"Obviously, when I started here, it was during the pandemic, so there weren't any fans in the stadium, but through social media it became something very special to me and then when the fans started coming back, and life was getting back to normal, I started to feel a lot of affection and respect for my story and for my start here.
"So, it is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances, but when there is a mutual love, it's even harder. But once a Blue, always a Blue."
Silva has worked under a variety of managers during his time at Chelsea, including Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter, Thomas Tuchel and Frank Lampard, who brought him to the club.
"The way in which I came here, with the support of the club, I got to be a leader of the club having arrived as the new guy," Silva continued.
"It's always difficult to integrate, but bit by bit, I became part of the group and Lampard played a big part in that, so I am grateful to him for that.
"Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"Goodbyes are for those that leave and don't come back. I intend on coming back one day."
Silva will be hoping to bid farewell to Chelsea on a high note by propelling them to European qualification.
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