- Everton were deducted 10 points last week for breaching financial rules
- Erik ten Hag expects a setback when his team plays against the Toffees this weekend
- CHRIS SUTTON: Everton players need to keep their wits about them It all starts
Erik ten Hag has warned his Manchester United players that a ‘crazy’ Everton will be fueled by a sense of injustice when the two clubs meet at Goodison Park on Sunday.
The Merseysiders have been hit with a 10-point deduction for breaching Premier League financial rules, dropping them from 14th to second.
They are the first Premier League club to receive points for the violation and Ten Hag expects a backlash from Sean Dyche’s team.
“I see the opposition, I see they are angry,” said the United boss. ‘At the end of the day, it’s about us. When they are angry, that is their fuel. We must meet those standards. If we meet the standards, we have a very good chance of winning the game.”
Asked about the points deduction, Ten Hag said: ‘I can’t say that, because I don’t know the details, I have no opinion. I can imagine that the Everton fans are very angry. We can’t do anything about it. We have to meet their standards.”
Erik ten Hag expects Everton to play against his team at Goodison Park on Sunday
Sean Dyche’s team will play their first match since the 10-point deduction
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United go into the match as the Premier League’s best team with four wins from five games, but are struggling in Europe ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Champions League match against Galatasaray.
“Certainly, we have seen a turning point,” said Ten Hag. ‘We have seen how we deal with certain situations, but now we are building on that. We’re in for a huge month. We are really looking forward to it and are confident. In the Premier League, everyone beats everyone and teams drop points. We have won four of the last five games.’
A tough week ends with a trip to Newcastle and Ten Hag said: ‘We go in a week, very condensed, we play three games in six days. We have to deal with that as a team. Of course we have a plan, a strategy for it. We make the players aware and they have to take responsibility, but it is about cooperation.’
Ten Hag has been banned from the sidelines at Goodison Park after picking up his third booking of the season in the win over Luton a fortnight ago.
He added: ‘Let’s say this: it’s a ban and you don’t always agree with the referees, I think a lot of decisions this season are against us. I saw a number: 18 in the league. But still I have to accept it.
‘The advantage is that I have a better view (from the stands). Certainly, you have to behave there (on the sidelines), even if they make mistakes.’