Erik ten Hag praised the Man Utd supporters for placing their faith in him after at least two bids to purchase the team were made.

Ten Hag addresses United fans at full-time

Erik ten Hag told the Man Utd supporters to return to Old Trafford on Thursday and help the team beat Barcelona in their Europa League play-off.

United overcame a disjointed first half to overwhelm Leicester City 3-0 in the Premier League to move within five points of leaders Arsenal.

The victory over Leicester came three days after United played out an absorbing 2-2 draw with Barcelona in the first leg of their knockout tie in Camp Nou.

After the final whistle of the Leicester triumph, Ten Hag was filmed engaging with the matchgoers as he approached the tunnel and was asked what he said to them.

“I said come Thursday,” Ten Hag said. “It’s a big game, make sure you are there and we beat Barcelona together.”

United are the only club in Europe competing on four fronts and face Newcastle in the League Cup final on Sunday before hosting West Ham in the FA Cup fifth round on March 1.

Ten Hag was thankful for the Man Utd Supporters’ Trust’s statement that was released on the eve of the game that issued their backing for the Dutchman.

MUST issued a statement in response to official bids submitted by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, imploring any prospective bidder to “explicitly commit to backing Erik and his plans to restore United to glory”.

“I thank the fans for their trust in me,” Ten Hag added. “I feel committed with this club, I love to be here but it’s not in my influence.

“What I can influence is the performance of this team and I will give everything to perform as good as possible and to bring them hop[efully across limits.

“We are committed with this club and it’s our club, it’s in our heart. But it’s not our job, we are focusing on football and performing, from our team, that is what the players and staff around have to do.”

source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk