Europa League: I didn’t want to play them – Ten Hag speaks ahead of Twente clash

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Europa League: I didn’t want to play them – Ten Hag speaks ahead of Twente clash

Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, has claimed he would have preferred to avoid facing FC Twente in Europa League.

The Red Devils’ first fixture in the expanded version of the competition is against the Dutch side on Wednesday night.

Ten Hag, who hails from the Netherlands, has admitted that he wanted to face another side.

Ten Hag began his professional career with Twente and spent seven years in three different spells.

The 54-year-old’s assistant Rene Hake, also managed the Dutch side for two years between 2015 and 2017.

Speaking to reporters at his pre-match press conference, Ten Hag said: “I would have preferred to have played against somebody else [other than Twente]. It’s not nice to have to hurt something you love.”

“Well, there’s a great deal of connections to and fro between MUFC and FC Twente. Between me and Rene Hake, me and Ruud [van Nistelrooy]. Also, connections forged through the various Ajax players we’ve all been involved with.”