It is often said that professional footballers must blot out the emotion, but Erik ten Hag knows it will not be possible. Manchester United are a club in mourning and when they play their first game at Old Trafford since the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton, it will be a time for all present to run the gamut of them.
Copenhagen are the visitors on Tuesday night for what is a must-win Champions League tie, but United’s thoughts are likely to be elsewhere in the buildup. It was certainly poignant when the club held a minute’s silence before Ten Hag’s press conference at Carrington on Monday lunchtime and so imagine how it will be when 73,000 bow their heads at kick-off; the power of the stillness, the depth of the contemplation.
Charlton is United, the club’s favourite son, their definitive symbol. It was not just how often he played for them over 17 years from 1956 and what he won, but how he did so; the way he conducted himself on and off the pitch, which extended into his role as a director later in life.
Charlton is everywhere at Old Trafford. On the forecourt in the Holy Trinity statue; in the South Stand that bears his name; in the hearts of the fans. And if it sounds trite to suggest that United must somehow ‘Do it for Bobby’ – as Ten Hag was duty bound to acknowledge – the manager was able to hit the right notes, to add to the beauty of the many tributes.
“Bobby was a legend, a giant, not only for Manchester United but for world football,” Ten Hag said. “His legacy, what he left were the high standards we have to live every day. First of all, our thoughts are with his family, his wife, his children, his grandchildren. But also what he meant for Manchester United, the standards he set.”
Rasmus Højlund (centre) in training as Manchester United prepare to play his former team Copenhagen. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
Ten Hag wanted to stress the importance of channelling the emotional energy. “We are professionals and it is our job [to focus on winning] but you can’t ban emotions,” he said. “You need to use them in the right way.” And with that, he nodded at Diogo Dalot, the full-back seated beside him, whose 77th-minute top-corner cracker had won Saturday night’s Premier League game at Sheffield United.
“Diogo did it very good on Saturday when he scored a goal in memory of Bobby Charlton,” Ten Hag said. “I saw a goal from him … I think it was at Wembley from distance, like Diogo did. So use that in the right way.”
Over to Dalot, whose goal was his fourth since joining United in 2018 – and by some way the most important. “It’s a big privilege when you combine Sir Bobby’s goals and they relate to a goal of your own, it’s a privilege to hear that,” he said.
“I was fortunate enough to get to know him since I arrived to the club. He was always there after the games with us – no matter if we won or lost. He was always ready to give you a word of appreciation. Sometimes he would even say that we had to play a little bit better. That just represents the standard of this club. For someone like me who likes to follow good examples, he was one of those and he will be present on me for the rest of my career.”
United’s challenge is to haul themselves back into contention in Champions League Group A after the losses against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, and to build on the league win at Sheffield United, which followed the last-gasp one against Brentford before the international break.
Ten Hag has several selection teasers, including whether to recall the fit-again Sergio Reguilón at left-back. Could Raphaël Varane, a late substitute in Sheffield, start in central defence? In midfield, where Casemiro is suspended, does Ten Hag persist with Scott McTominay or recall Mason Mount? Or even Cristian Eriksen. Alejandro Garnacho is pushing hard for a starting spot on the wing.
Rasmus Højlund, United’s £72m summer signing from Atalanta, will not want for motivation against the club where he began his professional career. It was 25 October 2020 when the striker, then 17, made his debut for Copenhagen as a stoppage-time substitute against Aarhus. He would score five goals for them – all in the Europa Conference League – and they sold him in January 2022 to Sturm Graz, jumping at a fee of €1.8m which they believed represented good value. Oops.
“You know it is a special game for Rasmus,” Ten Hag said. “He grew up at this club and you know he will be highly motivated. That’s for me, the team, but especially for him to send that in the right direction, to find the right balance.”
