FC Barcelona manager Xavi has lavished praise on Erik ten Hag for the work the Dutch tactician has been doing at Manchester United since becoming the Red Devils’ manager.
Barcelona and Manchester United are set to square off in the second leg of the Europa League knockout play-off at Old Trafford. The two sides played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg, which took place at Camp Nou.
The tie remains in the balance, and whoever emerges on top at Old Trafford will progress to the round of 16 of the Europa League. Speaking ahead of Barcelona’s clash with Manchester United, Xavi was full of praise for the work Erik ten Hag has so far done at the Premier League side.
On Erik ten Hag, Xavi told The Times that the Manchester United manager has built a team at Old Trafford and that the Dutchman is getting the best out of the players available to him.
Xavi on Erik ten Hag: “He is very good”
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“He is very good, I like him a lot. He has built a team and is getting the best out of all his players. That speaks well of him. Tactically he is very good and he handles the dressing room very well,” Xavi said on Erik ten Hag [via Barca Universal].
“He is getting all the talent out of his players. You see Sancho, Rashford, the Portuguese guy [Bruno Fernandes]. And look how Fred is playing.”
Meanwhile, as aforementioned, the first-leg ended in a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou. It was a thrilling match of football that both sides could have won.
It was Barcelona who first scored when Xavi’s men took on Erik ten Hag’s. Marcos Alonso sent Barcelona ahead in the 50th minute before Marcus Rashford equalized for Manchester United in the 52nd minute.
An own goal by Jules Kounde in the 59th minute saw Manchester United take the lead. However, Barcelona restored parity through Raphinha’s goal on 76 minutes.
Both Barcelona and Manchester United head into the second leg on the back of a victory in their most recent fixture. Barcelona saw off Cadiz 2-0 in La Liga while Manchester United defeated Leicester City 3-0 in Premier League.
The second leg match between Manchester United and Barcelona kicks-off at 1:30 am Indian Standard Time on February 24.
