Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is determined to end the club's longest trophy drought for 40 years as his side prepare to face Nottingham Forest in the League Cup semi-finals.
United have not won a trophy since Jose Mourinho led them to victory in the Europa League final against Ajax in Stockholm in 2017.
The Old Trafford giants have since reached six semi-finals in different competitions. They lost the 2018 FA Cup final under Mourinho against Chelsea before Ole Gunnar Solksjaer guided them to the 2021 Europa League final, which they lost on penalties to Villarreal.
Ten Hag has transformed United's fortunes since taking over in the summer and is on a mission to end their six-year wait for a trophy. It is the club's longest spell without collecting any honours since the period between 1977 and 1983.
The United manager, who clinched the Eredivisie title with Ajax last season, said: “It’s the best feeling you can have winning a trophy. I had the luck in my career to win some trophies and it’s magnificent, especially for the fans.
“It’s so great and I think the fans here have some experience, especially the older ones. But now it is a period Manchester United didn’t win trophies and it is too long.
“We are aware of that fact and we have to do everything to bring a trophy in.”
United play the first leg of the semi-final on Wednesday at the City Ground. It is a stadium they have not visited since 1999, when Solskjaer came off the substitutes' bench to score four in an 8-1 victory for United.
“It’s a long time ago (since United played there) eh? But I think we like that – a fanatic audience is nice to play for," said Ten Hag.
“It will be a good atmosphere and I think it will motivate the players and we have to get ready for that.
“It’s about winning trophies, so we have a good opportunity, but you have to go game from game, so now we play Forest, two legs, so focus on the first leg.
“Don’t think further, don’t think further ahead because that will distract, so the aim for tomorrow is win that game.”
United are looking to bounce back from a disappointing week in which they dropped five points from a possible six in the Premier League, losing 3-2 at Arsenal after their last-gasp draw away to Crystal Palace.
Arsenal 3 Manchester United 2 - ratings
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ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale 6: Early collision with Fernandes had United appealing for penalty, but it was rightly ignored. No chance with wonderful Rashford finish. Fine save from deflected shot from the same player in th second half but then flapped badly at a corner ahead of United’s second. AFP -
Ben White 6: Challenge on the in-form Rashford resulted in the game’s first yellow card in the first half which might explain his half-time substitution with the Gunners not taking risk of going down to 10 men with the game evenly poised. AP -
Gabriel 7: Slight slackness early on when he allowed a hopeful Lisandro Martinez long ball across th box that resulted in Ramsdale’s coming together with Fernandes. Keane v Vieira-esque head-to-head ‘discussion’ with th Portuguese midfielder in a game that was throwback to that era. Getty -
William Saliba 8: Another assured display from th French defender. Cool, calm, and times challenges so well and never put a foot wrong. Getty -
Olseksandr Zinchenko 8: Played a key role in the build-up for Nketiah’s goal then scuffed a low strike across the penalty area that almost ended up picking out Nketiah just before the break. Fine job keeping Antony under control. Getty -
Thomas Partey 7: Fired a shot just wide in the opening couple of minutes but was sloppy in possession then skinned by Rashford for the opening goal. Went on to help Arsenal win the midfield battle. AFP -
Granit Xhaka 8: Nice ball to set up an early chance for midfield partner Partey and even better delivery to supply the cross for Nketiah’s equaliser. What a season the Swiss is having. Superb again. AP -
Martin Odegaard 8: Very impressive shift from Norwegian, winning challenges, great passing and movement. Was Arsenal’s heartbeat throughout. Getty -
Bukayo Saka 9: Exploded into the game just after the break when he cut inside Eriksen before fizzing home a stunning strike from the edge of the area to put his team 2-1 up. Then hit the post with a similar effort that took a slight deflection. AFP -
Gabriel Martinelli 7: Missed a chance for a quick leveller when he curled a shot wide of target from a well-worked corner. Always threatening down the left and had an intriguing battle against Wan-Bissaka. Getty -
Eddie Nketiah 8: Headed Arsenal level just seven minutes after United had opened the scoring – his 12th goal in his last 13 starts at Emirates Stadium. Denied another by fine De Gea reaction save before grabbing the winner with a lovely flicked finish. AP -
SUBS: Takehiro Tomiyasu (On for White 46’) 7: Always looking to push forward after coming on, although keeping tabs on Rashford was his big test which he pretty much passed. AP -
Learndro Tossard (On for Martinelli 82’) N/A. Reuters Rob Holding (On for Odegaard 90+3’) N/A. -
MAN UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 6: Beaten from distance by Saka. Conceded three goals for the first time since Brentford (and for the second time at Arsenal in nine months), but made some notable saves, the best from close range from Nketiah as Arsenal pushed for a third. Unusually poor goal kicks. AP -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6: An enthralling match but an awkward afternoon for the Londoner and he twice cost his side in moves involving Nketiah, whom he played onside for the winning goal. Better up against Martinelli AFP -
Lisandro Martinez 7: Lifted a header perfectly from his bandaged head to make it 2-2 for his first United goal. He read the bounce brilliantly before that and ran to the travelling fans to celebrate. Useful going forward, too, but could have done better for two Arsenal goals. Went in well on the wonderful Odegaard and blocked from Xhaka too. AP -
Raphael Varane 7: The most comfortable United defender and not the one targeted by Arsenal. Calm. How did his defence concede three? His mentality is not an issue, but his manager was angry at the end and said: “At this moment I am annoyed. I told the players if you want to win trophies you have to change your mentality.” PA -
Luke Shaw 6: His most challenging game for a while against the best team in the league. Backed off all the way into the 16-yard box, leading Saka, his tormentor as the game went on, towards his best foot to shoot. Reuters -
Scott McTominay 7: Header kept out by Ramsdale, as was a shot after 28 minutes. Gave it a good go in his first league start since he lost his place to Casemiro at the start of October, but he’s not got the Brazilian’s influence. Few have. Getty -
Christian Eriksen 6: Inswinging corner from the left led to Martinez’s equaliser, but he doesn’t have the defensive qualities of Casemiro and his role in losing the ball and then letting Saka get his shot off didn’t cover him with glory. Better going forward but found it hard to influence a game against the league leaders. EPA -
Bruno Fernandes 7: Early penalty appeal turned down. Denied Xhaka with a clearance. Set up Rashford his exceptional opener. Involved as ever but met his match against top-level opponents. AFP -
Antony 5: Another challenging day, but he’s getting a lot of help at Carrington and his defensive game was much improved. Broke on the right and set up McTominay for a shot, but much of his attacks come to nothing in a game United never looked like winning. PA -
Marcus Rashford 8: Superb strike to beat Partey and shoot to put United ahead, his first away league goal in over two years. A second effort was well saved by Ramsdale. Seventeen goals so far this season. AFP -
Wout Weghorst 6: Willing. Held the ball up well and played others in like Antony. A reference for his teammates and a physical challenge for the Arsenal defenders too but never looked like scoring. AFP -
SUBS: Fred (Antony 71’) 6: Lost out in the challenge which ended up with Arsenal’s winner; Alejandro Garnacho (Varane 90’) N/A. Getty
Forest manager Steve Cooper says the club’s history can motivate the current team to create “new moments”.
Under Brian Clough, Forest won a league title, two European Cups and four League Cups.
Cooper said his players can use the club’s history to inspire them against United.
“I think we embrace it," he said. "We try not to (let) it be a hindrance or an added pressure. We want to use it as a motivation, to understand who we are and what we represent.
“I’ve said from the moment I walked in (in September 2021), you can’t get away from the history of this club, and you shouldn’t, so embrace it, represent it as best you can, but in a modern way, in a way that we’re trying to look forward, trying to create new eras, positive eras, new moments.
“I think that’s a good balance. This club is what it is because of its history and we should always be proud of that. We’re really excited about it, that’s for sure, and to put Nottingham Forest on the stage of the semi-final of an important competition is right, and it’s been a long while.
“We’re really pleased to put the club on this stage again and we just want to make sure we do ourselves justice."
