90min

Erik ten Hag cites Liverpool example ahead of Man Utd's Carabao Cup opener

  • Man Utd begin Carabao Cup campaign against League One's Barnsley
  • Erik ten Hag targeting a second cup lift in the sometimes maligned competition
  • Liverpool won it last season, while Man City have won six times recently

By Jamie Spencer

Erik ten Hag values the Carabao Cup as much as other trophies
Erik ten Hag values the Carabao Cup as much as other trophies / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
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Erik ten Hag is determined for Manchester United to take the Carabao Cup seriously, citing Liverpool's victory last season as an example that all clubs want to win the trophy.

Ten Hag delivered the Carabao Cup during his first year as United boss in 2022/23, but the competition is often viewed by fans as less prestigious or a lower priority when directly compared to the Premier League, FA Cup or European tournaments.

But Liverpool won the 2023/24 edition, which proved to be Jurgen Klopp's final piece of silverware, while Manchester City lifted it six times in eight seasons from 2013/14 to 2020/21. No team outside the established elite of English football has won it since Swansea City did more than 11 years ago.

"FA Cup, Carabao Cup, it's significant," Ten Hag said as United prepare to host League One's Barnsley in the third round on Tuesday night.

"I see all the attention from all the teams, from all the owners, all the managers when they win a trophy, like Liverpool did last year with winning the Carabao Cup. I saw the final and also going up to the final, all the teams battling for it.

Virgil van Dijk, Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool won last season's Carabao Cup / Nigel French/Allstar/GettyImages

"We want the same. So it's very important and, in football, to win trophies, also in English football, is very important. You have five [competitions], you have five opportunities. Our aim is always to win all the games, so win all the trophies if possible."

Anything less than a comfortable United victory over Barnsley to start their Carabao Cup journey in 2024/25 would be a shock given the gulf between the clubs. But United were infamously dumped out of the competition by MK Dons a decade ago and were also the victims of lower league 'cupsets' against Middlesbrough in 2015/16, Bristol City in 2017/18 and Derby County in 2018/19.

"It's about winning trophies," Ten Hag stressed. "I don't talk only about this – [the media] are talking about you have to win, [and] to win leagues. We are in five [competitions] and we want to win them. So, no doubt, we are aiming for trophies. This is one opportunity and we take it seriously."

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