Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag cautions that Chelsea remains a formidable opponent capable of defeating any team, despite facing challenges in the Premier League this season.

Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, believes that Chelsea has the ability to defeat any team in the Premier League, despite their challenging season. As the Manchester United boss prepares for a visit to Stamford Bridge, he acknowledges the quality within the Chelsea squad.

The upcoming match between Chelsea and Manchester United will take place in West London on Thursday. Both teams have faced injury struggles throughout the season, with United aiming for a top-four finish and Chelsea fighting for a spot in the top half of the table.

Ten Hag expressed his thoughts on the competition and the importance of player availability in a news conference on Wednesday. He stated, “It’s a tough competition, it’s very tight and also a lot about which players are available and not. When you are on the right side of the line, you can have a successful season but when on the wrong side, you can have a much more difficult season.”

Despite their challenges, Ten Hag recognizes the strength of the Chelsea team, stating, “For the rest, they have a fantastic team, fantastic players and play very good football. They can beat anyone and have shown that in this league.”

In their previous match against Brentford, Manchester United was denied a victory in added time when Mason Mount’s goal was cancelled out by Kristoffer Ajer’s effort. Ten Hag admitted that his team should not have allowed the draw after taking the lead so late in the game.

Reflecting on the match, Ten Hag said, “I am long enough in football to know and some of you should also understand why such things happen. Sometimes you are not playing good but we are Manchester United, you have to win and you cannot give it away like we did, that was the biggest disappointment for me. We keep going.”

Mount, who recently returned from a four-month injury absence, scored his first goal for Manchester United against Brentford. Ten Hag emphasized the importance of managing his minutes carefully to prevent further injury, stating, “He’s a fantastic football player but it’s important first that he is getting and keeping fit because he has had three injuries. We have to do this carefully. The first objective is to keep him fit. Then he can benefit and contribute to the team like he did on Saturday when he had a big impact.”

Ten Hag also provided an update on Manchester United’s current injuries, revealing that centre back trio Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, and Harry Maguire have returned. However, he acknowledged the challenges faced by all teams in the Premier League due to the high standards and the demanding schedule.

As for how to watch the Chelsea v Manchester United match, it will be broadcasted live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 19:30 on Thursday, April 4, before kick-off at 20:15. Viewers can subscribe to TNT Sports through various TV platforms such as discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.