Erik ten Hag vows Sir Bobby Charlton’s ‘inspirational’ spirit will be with Man United during their must-win Champions League clash with Copenhagen

Erik ten Hag says the ghost of Sir Bobby Charlton will be with Manchester United on Tuesday night for an emotionally charged occasion at Old Trafford as they play there for the first time since the club legend’s death.

United will face FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, which has lost its first two games in Group A. Ten Hag admitted it is a must-win game, but there is a much wider significance of honoring Charlton, who died in the early hours of 86 on Saturday.

The two teams will wear black armbands and lay wreaths before kick-off, and there will be a scheduled minute’s silence. United also called for silence before Ten Hag’s press conference in Carrington on Monday afternoon.

The Trinity statue is a symbol of Charlton’s lasting legacy at United, and Ten Hag said: ‘He stands in front of Old Trafford with Denis Law and George Best. He is always with us and they are always a huge inspiration for us, every day in every game.

‘Bobby was a legend, a giant, not only for Manchester United but also for football. So his legacy, the high standards, we have to live every day. What he meant to Manchester United and the standards he set have been highlighted in recent days.

‘It’s always special, every night at Old Trafford. The fans are always so behind us. Think of the last home game against Brentford: even when the game wasn’t going our way, they stayed behind us in difficult moments.

“In times of adversity, the fans are still with us and they fight. Certainly, tomorrow after the death of Sir Bobby Charlton, their hero, the late legend, will be more emotional.

‘First we want to win as a tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton, but you always want to do that in a certain way and that’s what we’re aiming for. In football that is not always possible. You don’t always play that well, but you have to find a way to win. On Saturday I was happy with the second goal.’

Sitting alongside Ten Hag at Carrington was Diogo Dalot who scored that goal, curling home from 25 yards to secure a 2–1 win at Sheffield United.

Charlton was more of an exponent of power in his shooting, but Dalot was honored that comparisons were being made with arguably United’s best ever player.

“It’s a great privilege when you compare Sir Bobby’s goals and they relate to one of your own,” Dalot said.

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‘I was lucky to get to know him since I joined the club. He was always there with us after the games. If we won or lost the game, he was always there to give you a word of appreciation.

‘He even said at times that we needed to play a little better, but that he represents the standards of this club. It’s something we have to look back on and say that if legends like these have won the best titles, won the best games, scored the best goals, then we have to follow those steps.

‘When I arrived here I always tried to find out more about the history of the club, whether it was short or longer. Hearing about Sir Bobby was something you had to do if you were here for a day or several years.

“You know him and this kind of legend is someone you have to follow. Not only the impact on English football, but also on world football. He was an example for someone like me who likes to follow good examples. He will be with me for the rest of my career.”