FC Twente starts its European adventure today against Manchester United and will meet an old acquaintance in trainer Erik ten Hag. “I have apped him and demanded that he has to play with a B-team”, says FC Twente watcher Leon ten Voorde in Goedemorgen Nederland on NPO 1.
For people in Enschede, Erik ten Hag is a well-known and also very beloved person. In his time as a player, he wore the shirt of FC Twente no less than 257 times. In addition, he also sat on the bench 142 times at the Tukkers, as assistant to trainer Fred Rutte.
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‘Torturing Love’
That FC Twente still has a deep place in the heart of the current Manchester United coach is evident from his words during yesterday’s press conference. “I have to torture my great love,” said Ten Hag.
The coach shares that love with Twente watcher Leon ten Voorde, who is in Manchester on behalf of Tubantia and will experience the match up close. “I texted him and demanded that he play with a B-team. Now the B-team is also terribly strong, but he didn’t really react to it. It was a bit funny.”
Can Twente surprise?
In addition to Ten Hag, another familiar face is on the bench at United. His assistant coach René Hake, who was in charge of FC Twente for three seasons between 2015 and 2018. This may be an extra incentive for the Tukkers to beat United. “They want that too, but we have to remain realistic,” Ten Voorde responds.
He compares the financial assets of both clubs. “Twente has made a lot of effort to bring in a striker for two or three million. Manchester United has invested 215 million euros in new players this summer alone.”
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But as a well-known football saying goes: the ball is round. In The Theatre of Dreamsas United’s stadium is also popularly called, that age-old football law applies. Ten Voorde: “Nobody expects a good result to be achieved here. Normally Manchester United is much too strong. A huge football miracle will have to happen if Twente gets a good result here.”
Good or bad result, for all Twente supporters it is a great trip anyway. The Tukkers are 4000 strong at Old Trafford. Will they be able to drown out the noise of the 70,000 United supporters? The players will find out when they appear at the kick-off at 21:00 for their first match in the Europa League.
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By: Vick ten Wolde
