Reporter jokingly calls out Erik ten Hag for arriving late to Man United press conference

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag shared a hilarious exchange with a reporter during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday morning. 

The Dutchman arrived late to United’s press conference at Carrington on Tuesday and blamed a ‘VISA procedure’ for running late.

One of the reporters in attendance jokingly asked whether Ten Hag would ‘fine’ himself for turning up late after he penalised Marcus Rashford earlier in the season. 

Ten Hag couldn’t help but laugh at the reporter’s question and said he would not be fining himself as it was not his fault. 

The exchange started when Ten Hag walked into the room. He said: ‘I want to apologise that I’m late, I had to do a procedure for the VISA and there was a technical problem, so that’s why.’ 

One of the journalists in attendance jokingly replied to the Manchester United manager saying: ‘Are you going to fine yourself then?’. 

Ten Hag couldn’t help but laugh before responding by saying: ‘No fine! I could do nothing about it.’ 

The reporters comment came after Ten Hag fined and dropped Rashford for oversleeping and missing a team meeting in December. 

Speaking about the incident, Rashford said: ‘Obviously it’s the rules. It’s a mistake that can happen. I was disappointed not to start but I understand the decision.

‘I was happy we managed to win the game anyway, so we can draw a line under it. I was late for a meeting – I overslept.’ 

Ten Hag was satisfied with Rashford’s response having confirmed before kick-off that his absence was due to ‘internal disciplinary’ reasons.

‘Everyone has to match the standards and the rules, so again there have to be consequences,’ said the United boss. ‘On the pitch there have to be consequences and I think he gave the right answer.

‘I was not satisfied with the performance in the first half. We had good chances to score a goal. We created them and we have to be more clinical in front of goal. We know Rashy can score the goals and he did that when he came on.’

The reporters comment came after Ten Hag fined and dropped Rashford for oversleeping and missing a team meeting in December

Luke Shaw hinted that discipline was not always quite as strict under Ten Hag’s predecessors Ralf Rangnick and Gunnar Solskjaer as he backed the manager’s decision to bench Rashford

Defender Luke Shaw hinted that discipline was not always quite as strict under Ten Hag’s predecessors Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as he backed the manager’s decision to bench Rashford.

‘At a top club like this it has to be like that,’ said Shaw, who played on the left side of central defence for the second game in a row.

‘I think that people can’t do whatever they want, and maybe that’s been part of the problem in the past with people getting away with silly little things.

‘The manager takes all of that into consideration. Like you’ve seen today, if you’re not keeping the standards high then you won’t play.

‘I think he (Rashford) is in a really good way at the moment. He’s extremely confident, very positive, very happy and it’s nice to see it.

‘Everyone knows the quality that he’s got. He’s world class and he could be one of the best in the world if he keeps going. Hopefully he does that.’

Manchester United will be back in action on Wednesday when they face Leeds in their Premier League clash at Old Trafford.