Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United have to win this weekend's match at Nottingham Forest.
United have the opportunity to capitalise on Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur both losing on Saturday afternoon. A win at the City Ground would see them retake third place in the Premier League table from the former and extend their gap over the latter to six points with eight matches left to play.
Ten Hag is well aware of the danger Forest poses due to their position sitting just inside the relegation zone on goal difference. Tottenham tasting defeat against Bournemouth, Saturday's bid winners in the bottom half, has only heightened the hazard in front of United.
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“Every game in this stage of the season is a danger because, in all the games, the opponents are more expansive,” Ten Hag told club media when asked about opponents playing for Premier League status being more dangerous. ”And definitely for Nottingham Forest.
”They are battling to not get relegated, so we have to be aware of it, and we have to match that. So it's going to be a tough opponent, a tough game, but we have to win, and when we play our best football, we have a good opportunity to win there.”
United's confidence comes from winning 3-0 away against this weekend's opponents in the Carabao Cup semi-finals earlier this year. “Yes, of course, we take confidence [from that] as well,” Ten Hag added. ”But the game [starts at] 0-0, and we have to do it all over again. But the evidence shows we can do it.”
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