Erik ten Hag has warned his Manchester United side against complacency amid the club’s impressive run of form.
United have won eight consecutive games in all competitions and will be looking to extend that record when the Red Devils host Charlton in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday evening.
Ten Hag’s team progressed in the FA Cup at the weekend and the Dutchman will hope to lead his side into the last four of the EFL Cup at Old Trafford.
Ahead of the clash, Ten Hag was asked whether his side had to be mindful of complacency given their run of wins and insisted his team must retain their focus for each fixture.
“Yeah. You have to be watchful of this,” he told his pre-match press conference.
“We have to keep this focus and this concentration. You have to work well during the days we are training. We have to keep the focus when we go to games.
“We have to start with the right attitude. When you don’t, we talk before, I think the level of the Premier League is dead high. If you’re not, you get hammered. If you do not bring the mental or physical output, you get hammered. So, we have to avoid that by keep working well and do the right things.”
Jack Butland could make his debut in goal after signing on loan from Crystal Palace, with Ten Hag confirming that he will make a decision between the new recruit and Tom Heaton.
“Tom was, many times, on the bench,” he said. “He had bad luck when he was injured for the Carabao Cup, the first one against Aston Villa. Then Martin [Dubravka] was keeping and he did very well. Now the situation with [Jack] Butland coming in, I have to see his performance in training.
“But the Carabao Cup is coming quick and then we will make a choice. Tom is, of course, more adapted to our way of play and has more connection to the dressing room, to the team, but still I have a decision to make on Tuesday. But, for me, there is no issue.”
Bruno Fernandes is not available for the clash with Charlton as the midfielder serves a suspension for picking up two yellow cards earlier in the competition.
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