Erik ten Hag Reveals his Ultimate 5-A-Side Team featuring Arsenal and Liverpool Icons

United will kick off their Europa League campaign on Wednesday night against Twente, the club where Ten Hag started his playing career.

The Dutchman hasn’t had the greatest of times in Europe with the Red Devils, losing in the quarter-finals of the UEL in his first season, before being embarrassingly knocked out of the Champions League group stage last time out.

This season, United are one of the favourites to win the Europa League in its new format, alongside the likes of Tottenham, Roma and Athletic Bilbao.

Ahead of their opening match, Ten Hag was asked by UEFA to pick an ultimate 5-A-Side team made up of past winners of the Europa League/UEFA Cup.

Selecting from a shortlist provided, which featured ex-United stars like Wayne Rooney, the manager picked goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, defender Fabio Cannavaro and midfielder Lothar Matthaus.

But his final two selections may raise eyebrows: ‘In terms of midfielders, I would pick Steven Gerrard because he can also defend and attack.

‘He has a good shot and is a good finisher and can play the final pass, which is what you need.

‘My attacker… that’s easy, Dennis Bergkamp. He’s phenomenal in tight spaces. Incredibly quick. A great finisher.

‘I think that would be a great team with Buffon, Cannavaro, Matthaus, Gerrard and Bergkamp. I think they would be very successful.’

Tottenham – 9/2

Man Utd – 11/2

Roma – 9/1

Athletic Bilbao – 11/1

Porto – 12/1

Real Sociedad: 12/1

Rangers – 100/1

Odds courtesy of Betfair

Legendary Liverpool captain Gerrard won the UEFA Cup in 2001 for United’s arch rivals, while Arsenal hero Bergkamp triumphed in the competition for Ajax and Inter Milan.

The latter’s selection is perhaps not too surprising given his status as one of the Netherlands’ greatest players, with Ten Hag no doubt hoping to emulate his fellow countryman’s achievement this season.

‘It’s tomorrow we have our first impressions [of the new Europa League format],’ the manager said ahead of United vs Twente.

‘Last week, I followed the Champions League in the same format, and it looks like every game is significant and every goal is significant. Even so, we know what to do.

‘We have to win tomorrow because it’s the first match in this league and we have eight games to go. So you have your first home game and you have to win this game.’

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