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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Erik ten Hag stops Robin van Persie interview to tell him he doesn't want his compliments

Erik ten Hag interrupted Robin van Persie during an interview after the ex-striker lauded the manager's work at Manchester United.

Ten Hag told Van Persie "you don't collect trophies" from compliments after the former United star insisted the club has been restored back to "where it belongs" under the Dutchman. The Red Devils have improved significantly since Ten Hag arrived last summer.

Van Persie interviewed Ten Hag for BT Sport ahead of United's Europa League clash against Barcelona at Old Trafford on Thursday night. The first leg between the two sides finished 2-2 at the Camp Nou, with a spot in the last 16 of the tournament at stake.

Van Persie, who won the Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson a decade ago, travelled to United's Carrington training ground on Wednesday to interview Ten Hag. A clip of the interview was released by BT Sport ahead of Thursday night's game.

"From a football fan's point of view, it is a joy to watch both of you work - you're doing a great job," Van Persie tells Ten Hag in the BT Sport interview. "It's really good to see and I'm really happy that Manchester United is back where it belongs."

Ten Hag smiled awkwardly while Van Persie spoke and was not interested in getting ahead of himself. Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all impressed at times during their spells in charge of United, but they proved to be false dawns.

Erik ten Hag interrupted an interview with Robin van Persie (BT Sport)

Do you think Manchester United are back to "where they belong" under Erik ten Hag? Let us know in the comments below!

Ten Hag politely replied: "Robin, enough compliments... from compliments you don't collect trophies - and that's why we are here. So, we have to improve. If that's our mindset, I think this dressing room is capable to win trophies."

Ten Hag's attitude will delight United fans, who have waited nearly a decade for the club to lift another Premier League title. United have won just three major trophies since Ferguson's retirement in 2013 - the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa League.

Last season was arguably the toughest since Ferguson's exit. United finished sixth in the Premier League table under Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick - recording their lowest points tally in 32 years - and completed a fifth consecutive term without silverware.

Yet United are flourishing again under Ten Hag. They are third in the Premier League table - five points behind Arsenal having played a game more - and have an outside chance of winning the title. Champions League qualification, at the very least, looks guaranteed.

United are also going strong in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. They face West Ham at home in the fifth round of the FA Cup - a game they would expect to win - and take on Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.

Beating Newcastle will be difficult, as Eddie Howe's side are fifth in the Premier League table and enjoying their best season in years. Yet Ten Hag and his players will be keen to win the Carabao Cup and end the Old Trafford club's wait for silverware.

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