“It shows he rates me as a player” - Manchester United youngster Toby Collyer on what Ten Hag told him after FA Cup final win
Manchester United midfielder Toby Collyer opened up on his conversation with manager Erik ten hag following the side's FA Cup win last season. The Dutchman was spotted deep in talks with the 20-year-old at Wembley after their win over Manchester City.
Collyer said (via UTDDistrict):
“I think it’s a massive boost. It shows he rates me as a player,” began Collyer. “He just said take it all in, enjoy myself and keep working hard, and you never know what can happen. He’s a really good guy, the manager.”
Manchester United fans were quick to point out a similar interaction ten Hag had with Kobbie Mainoo following their Carabao Cup triumph in the 2022-23 season. Mainoo eventually went on to establish himself as a key starter for the side last year, growing into a bonafide star and earning a call-up to the Euros squad as well.
Erik ten Hag was also present for Collyer's contract signing, a move he has done with only a few academy products like Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. This could be a sign of the trust placed in the youngster.
Former Manchester United star opens up on life after leaving the club
Fulham attacker Andreas Pereira admitted that leaving Manchester United was the best decision of his life. The 28-year-old suggested that leaving the Red Devils in search of more playing time with the Cottagers was the right move for his career.
He said (via Standard Sport):
“I think it was the best decision I made in my life,” said the 28-year-old. “To come to live and play here, to enjoy my football, to get back into the national team with great players, to enjoy my football in the Premier League, leaving is the best decision I made.
“The time I was [at Man Utd], I really enjoyed being at a fantastic club. But I don’t regret leaving. We [the players in my situation] have this desire to show it was wrong that we didn’t play.
“With everyone’s help around me [at Fulham], I achieved a great season. We started the season by losing a very important player, [Aleksandar] Mitrovic.
“We had to search for the way we have to play without him. In January, Rodrigo [Muniz] came in, scored all the goals and made my life easier!”
Pereira joined the Red Devils as a 16-year-old from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. He made his first-team debut in a 3-0 win over Tottenham in March 2015. However, he struggled to become a regular at Old Trafford, managing just 75 appearances across his stint.
He eventually joined Fulham in the summer of 2022. He went on to become a valuable player for Marco Silva's side, bagging three goals and nine assists in 44 games.