Special on Christian Eriksen: Manchester United midfielder faces ‘tremendous, incredible’ Jose Mourinho

Eriksen worked with the enigmatic Portuguese manager during his time at Tottenham before both parted ways with the North London club.

Prior to his tenure at Spurs, Mourinho was in charge of United and won the Europa League at the end of the 2016/17 season before being sacked in December 2018.

Asked about his former boss, Eriksen told TNT Sports: “He’s got a few old teams. He’s had a long and respected career, so hats off to him.”

“But he’s still Mourinho… so it’s very special to play against him. “He is a huge name in the football world and what he has achieved as a manager is incredible.”

United are yet to record a win in Europe, in what has been another turbulent start to a campaign under Ten Hag.

They drew 1-1 at home to FC Twente and then went 3-2 behind Porto after taking a 2-0 lead before Harry Maguire’s header saved the final point.

Those results came alongside a heartbreaking 3-0 home defeat against Spurs, but they come into the fixture on the back of a comeback win over Brentford in the Premier League last Saturday.

Now it’s up to the players to start the campaign and build some momentum, starting with a first domestic win in over a month.

“I believe in momentum,” Eriksen continued. “I also think confidence is more important than momentum.

“I think momentum comes after you’re confident you’re going to win games and then you can really draw a line and that’s what we aim for after every win.

“It is still in our hands to achieve this.”

A regular starter when he first arrived at Old Trafford, Eriksen has been in and out of the team over the last two seasons, but has made a run of seven starts in United’s last eight matches.

His progress has been hampered by injury, but Ten Hag has no doubt in his ability and ability to deliver an attack that has found the net just seven times in eight Premier League games so far.

“He’s doing very well for the most part but he’s had a few injuries and that doesn’t help of course,” Ten Hag said. “Also in a season a team comes into the formation and you have to be in that formation and now it’s developing in the right way for him.

“But everyone believes in his qualities. We need his qualities because he can link the game together, he is a creative player and can create opportunities for us and of course that is what every team needs.

“There are not many players with Christian Eriksen’s qualities and abilities.”

United’s forward struggles were also reflected in the defence. This season they have already scored three goals against Liverpool, Spurs and Porto, revealing the fragility in the group.

It’s little wonder, then, that Ten Hag hopes his players can show greater resilience when setbacks occur, just as they did against Fenerbahce.

“It will be an electric environment so moments (the game) can change,” the Dutchman added. “I hope we learn from the past where we are in the game and then come back.

“We have to stop this process and turn it in the right direction, but above all we have to get a foothold in the game.”