Erik ten Hag has issue a warning to his players that they cannot underestimate Reading tonight at Old Trafford in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The Reds return to Old Trafford for the #FACup 🙌#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 28, 2023
Reading reached this stage of the competition by beating fellow Championship side Watford 2-0 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium and despite sitting in 14th place, they are only five points off a play-off spot in the league table.
The United manager says that his team must be aware that Reading will try and make this game as difficult as possible for United as they will be looking “to put a marker in the season” so United cannot underestimate the challenge that is in front of them.
“It’s a different opponent and you can’t compare any opponent with each other. Their approach will be tough and we have to be ready for that. It’s quite normal and it’s their moment to get recognition, to put a marker in the season, and we have to be ready for that”[via Man Utd].
United go into this fixture against Reading on the back of a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, which you could argue gives the United manager the luxury of not having to select an extremely strong squad and instead freshen up his team, however, speaking to the club’s official media team, he says that he will put out a strong starting XI as he is not underestimating Reading, who are coming off the back of a 4-0 defeat to Stoke City in the Championship last time out.
“I think we have quite a fit squad but there are obviously issues in the squad, especially when you have to cover as many games as we have. We have to see which team we pick tomorrow, but it will be a strong selection because we are aware of the strength of the opponent” [via Man Utd].
The game between United and Reading kicks off at 8pm UK time, and for those in the UK, the match will be shown on ITV 4.