Ten Hag had dinner with Ferguson before the match against Barca

The two coaches had dinner together at Cibo Italian restaurant in Wilmslow, Cheshire on the evening of February 21. According to a source in Sport Mail, Ten Hag and Ferguson discussed issues related to Man Utd as well as English football.

Ten Hag is with Man Utd preparing for the second leg of the Europa League knock-out play-off round against Barca at home on February 23, after drawing 2-2 at Camp Nou in the first leg. In the first leg, the "Red Devils" played well and caused Barca to go upstream to escape defeat. Although the away table rule no longer applies, this score still gives Man Utd a certain advantage.

When Ferguson was managing Man Utd, Barca was one of his big rivals. The former Scottish coach defeated the Spanish club in the semi-finals, then won the Champions League 2007-2008. This is also the last time Man Utd beat Barca. But when reunited a year later in the final of this tournament, Ferguson's Man Utd lost 0-2 in the final. Two years later, the two clubs met again in the Champions League final, and the victory still belonged to Barca with a score of 3-1.

After the match against Barca, Man Utd will play an equally important match, meeting Newcastle in the League Cup final on the evening of February 26. This is an opportunity for Ten Hag to win his first title with Man Utd in his first season leading this club. The last time the "Red Devils" lifted the Cup was in 2017, when the team won the Europa League under coach Jose Mourinho.

In theory, Man Utd still has a chance to win in the four competitions they participate in this season. In the English Premier League, Ten Hag's teachers and students ranked third, five points behind Arsenal, but played more than one match. They have also reached the fifth round of the FA Cup and will face West Ham.