Erik ten Hag professed his "love" for Manchester United as he savoured his first trophy with the club after the League Cup final victory over Newcastle.
Ten Hag became the eighth United manager to win a major trophy after Ernest Mangnall, Sir Matt Busby, Tommy Docherty, Ron Atkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.
The 2-0 win at Wembley ended a trophy drought that had strayed close to six years and United are also third in the Premier League, in the fifth round of the FA Cup and the round-of-16 of the Europa League.
Read more: United player ratings as they win the Carabao Cup
Ten Hag was announced as United's manager a day after their 4-0 thumping at Liverpool in April with the club in the midst of their worst season in decades.
At Wembley, Ten Hag was asked whether he had taken a "risk" to take over at United. "Maybe it was a risk but look, I'm a little bit stubborn.
"I just love United. When I see already our shirts, when I see the bond with the fans, when I see Old Trafford, when I see the legacy Sir Alex left, so many players, big players were developed in the United teams, it makes a big impression and we want to do the same.
"This team wants to make its own history and its own legacy. When this opportunity came, this is the right club for me, I want to be a part of it."
Ten Hag repeatedly used the word "inspiration" at his post-match press conference, where he brought in the trophy and placed it on display as he fielded questions.
When Ten Hag got up to leave, he left the League Cup behind until reminded by journalists. "I can leave it because of the next cup!"
"Every cup is big, the meaning I've seen the last couple of months and weeks in England, in Manchester United, in our club, in our staff, our players, how they have experienced battles in this cup. It is a big win, this," Ten Hag stressed.
"We are really happy tonight and, once again, it has to be an inspiration. It will help and it will bring even more confidence, as long as we don't go over the top in confidence, as long as we keep doing the right things, the right stuff, keep working on the bond with the fans then we can win even more."
He was pictured greeting Sir Alex Ferguson after the full-time whistle and Ten Hag was effusive about the legendary manager. "It is a dinner that shows we are good (meeting with Sir Alex) and shows he is really involved in this club, it shows he is really committed, we can all learn a lot from him.
"You don't have to talk with him but you can learn a lot from what he did for Manchester United, it's a huge inspiration for all of us and it's an honour to share my thoughts, talk about football, how you lead dressing rooms, teams, strategies, etc. It's very good. It's very good he wants to share that not only with me but also he wants to give it to Manchester United and we are very grateful for it.
"He's a happy man tonight."
Ten Hag encouraged the United players to celebrate for a 24-hour period but highlighted Wednesday's FA Cup fifth round tie at home to West Ham.
"You have to celebrate, in this moment you have to celebrate because it's not business as usual, it is not a common day," Ten Hag insisted. "We won a trophy and this trophy means something, that's the feeling I get here in the UK.
"So we have won something, we have to celebrate that but from after that point, you have to keep going. Because Wednesday is another game, and it's a big game. From our perspective, every game is a big game. You can't win if you're not 100 per cent.
"This cup can be the inspiration to give even more, to be even more connected, to have even more togetherness and put even more effort in to be better because don't be satisfied.
"You said it right, it's an opportunity, it's possible, but we have to believe in it and it can be an inspiration but it's only coming when you do the right things. If you work very hard, if you stick together then things are possible. You have to go game from game and not look far ahead because of the schedule, the focus has to be on the job, 100 per cent necessary to get the right results."
READ MORE:
