Erik ten Hag has branded Newcastle annoying amid concerns Eddie Howe’s side will use time-wasting tactics in Sunday's Carabao Cup final.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and his Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta have both expressed frustration over Newcastle’s approach, and Ten Hag is expecting more gamesmanship at Wembley.
The ball has only been in play for an average of 51 minutes and 47 seconds of Newcastle’s games this season — the lowest of any Premier League club apart from Leeds.
Defender Jamaal Lascelles also has the dubious distinction of picking up two yellow cards for time-wasting, despite being an unused substitute, after he tried to block throw-ins against Arsenal and Chelsea while warming up on the touchline.
Ten Hag has told his players to try to speed the game up on Sunday, and hopes referee David Coote will be on top of attempts by Newcastle to slow it down.
‘They’re an annoying team to play against, so we have to find a way to win,’ said Ten Hag, who saw United held to a goalless draw by Newcastle at Old Trafford in mid-October.
‘They try to annoy you. We have to make sure we play our game and we focus on our game.
‘If you see the referee wants to play an effective time, they have the lowest in the league and they are quite successful with it.
‘So it’s up to us that we get speed in the game, and we are also then dependent on the refereeing as well.
‘We have to make it our game, so focus on the job and playing football when the ball is in the game, it’s about that.
‘So fully concentrated on that. Don’t get distracted from what can be, whatever is on the pitch. We have to find our way and find out the moments we can strike.’
Newcastle’s most pressing concern is in goal with Nick Pope’s suspension leaving Howe to choose between Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie.
Former Liverpool man Karius is expected to play but, whoever gets the nod, Ten Hag intends on putting the stand-in goalkeeper to the test.
‘It’s an issue for them which they have to sort, and of course we know it,’ he added. ‘That definitely is not an advantage. Of course we have to test it, that is quite obvious.’
Manchester United will play Real Betis in the last 16 of the Europa League on March 9 (h) and March 16 (a).