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Erik ten Hag sends confident warning to Graham Potter and Chelsea ahead of Premier League fixture

Erik ten Hag sends confident warning to Graham Potter and Chelsea ahead of Premier League fixture

Erik ten Hag has spoken to the press about the Premier League clash against Chelsea and facing Graham Potter once again.

Manchester United and Chelsea will face off for the first time in the Premier League this season on Saturday evening.

The two clubs have a very entrenched rivalry which has caused much heartbreak for both camps across the years.

In 2008, it was Chelsea who suffered defeat against Manchester United in the Champions League final, and more recently in 2018, Chelsea defeated the Red Devils in the FA Cup final.

One sub-plot of the upcoming fixture is the battle that Erik ten Hag and Graham Potter will take part in.

This is not the first time the two managers have faced each other this season, with Potter being the one who orchestrated Erik ten Hag's first loss in his opening match as Manchester United manager in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Potter has since switched jobs to the Chelsea dugout, and in his pre-match press conference, Erik ten Hag was asked how he felt about facing Potter once again.

"It is nothing, I think from that game. It is a different team, different game," Ten Hag replied. We are further in the process."

"Now I know more about him and maybe in the first game he knew more about me, Manchester United. It is not a fight between managers."

Erik ten Hag was also asked about how he feels playing Chelsea away from home, as all of Manchester United's best performances against the 'bid six' sides have been at Old Trafford.

"For me it is never an issue away from home," he said. "The pitch is the same size, 11 vs 11, there is a ref and we always have a lot of support from our fans - we feel strong."

One major talking point in the build up to this fixture is the future of Cristiano Ronaldo, after the striker walked out of Old Trafford early after refusing to play off the bench against Tottenham on Wednesday evening.

However, Erik ten Hag was keen to re-drive the narrative to focus ahead on Chelsea, rather than to dwell for longer than necessary on Ronaldo.

"We have a big game to play (against Chelsea), my focus is on the game, the focus of the staff and the players is on that game," Ten Hag told the press.

Cristiano Ronaldo has only scored twice this season. (Alamy)
Cristiano Ronaldo has only scored twice this season. (Alamy)

"We have to win that game and have the concentration to play our best."

There is no doubt that Manchester United have played better at Old Trafford than away from home in the Premier League this season, however Erik ten Hag is revelling the challenge that lies at Stamford Bridge.

"(It is) fabulous to play at Old Trafford with our fans on our back. Great experience. Opponents don't like to come to Old Trafford.

"But I also like to play away games, the Premier League stadiums are fantastic."

The match will kick-off at 20:15 BST in London, with Erik ten Hag and his side looking to break into the top four for the first time this season.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United, Graham Potter, Chelsea