Erik Ten Hag Warns Manchester United Not To Underestimate Sheriff Tiraspol

The Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has told his players not to underestimate the threat posed by Sheriff Tiraspol in their Europa League group tie in Chisinau on Thursday.

United might be the heavy favourites to triumph against the Moldovan champions, but the Dutchman knows their opponents are also capable of causing a shock.

Sheriff have won the last seven Moldovan Super Liga titles, and are currently top of the table once again having remained unbeaten in their first seven games of this new season.

Last season they became the first Moldovan side to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League where they recorded a famous win at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid, who went on to win the tournament.

They would finish third in their group with a respectable seven points from their six games to become the first Moldovan side to reach the knock-out stages of the Europa League, before they narrowly lost 3-2 to Braga.

“It’s quite clear because they beat Real Madrid, they beat Shaktar Donetsk last year, so they are capable of doing it and we have to make it our game,” Ten Hag said at a press conference on Wednesday.

“We are conscious of that fact so we have to be ready and prepared for that game because it is serious and it is a decent opponent and we have to play our best to get the win.”

While Sheriff won their opening Europa League group game 3-0 against Omonia, United went down to a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, making it crucial that they now secure a win in Moldova.

“Pressure is for every game,” Ten Hag said, “For us it is the same because we have to win every game. It’s clear, when you lose the first game you have to win the second, so we know what our task is.”

United had their Premier League game against Crystal Palace postponed last Sunday because of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and so have not played for a week since their defeat to the Spanish side, but Ten Hag does not believe that will affect them.

“We used the last days for good training sessions and I think that was very helpful, and I think we are well prepared for the game.”

After having lost that opening game in the Europa League it is likely United will select a more established starting line-up to face Sheriff. “We always play a strong team, so also in this game we will play a strong team,” Ten Hag confirmed.

United are without four players who are carrying injuries, Donny van de Beek, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Antony Martial, and Marcus Rashford, who has scored three goals so far this season, but picked up a muscle injury in United’s win against Arsenal.

“I don’t think [Marcus] will be out for too long but I cannot tell how long. I don’t want to say. It’s not really bad and we expect him back quite soon in the team.”

“He has played really good this season and I think in this season he had great comeback and he showed his great potential and quality.”