Erik ten Hag embraced Newport boss Graham Coughlan after Man Utd's FA Cup win (Image: Getty)
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag handed Graham Coughlan a £230 bottle of red wine - only to learn that his Newport counterpart does not like the drink. In a classy gesture, Ten Hag greeted Coughlan after the game to present the bottle which had been hand-picked by Red Devils legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
Late goals from Antony and Rasmus Hojlund sealed United’s passage into the fifth round, where they will play either Bristol City or Nottingham Forest. Ten Hag congratulated Coughlan on his team’s performance.
Boyhood United fan Coughlan was approached by Ten Hag after conducting his post-match media duties. The Dutchman shook his rival’s hand and said: “We have a small gift for you.”
Ten Hag presented Coughlan with a pricey bottle of 2013 Antinori Tignanello, which retails at £230. The United manager said it had been picked by his legendary predecessor Ferguson.
Erik ten Hag's red win gift for Graham Coughlan retails at £230 (Image: Getty)
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Coughlan jokingly responded: “Brilliant. You know I don't drink wine? I drink Budweiser.”
Going along with the joke, Ten Hag said: “Really, Budweiser? American beer? But this is a really very good one chosen by Sir Alex so maybe your wife will enjoy it.
“Maybe take a taste, I think you will like it. Well done for tonight.”
Speaking to the media later on, Coughlan said of the exchange: “He gave me a nice little bottle of red wine – don’t tell him I don’t like red wine!
“But we had a couple of words afterwards. He congratulated us, thanked us for our hospitality and spoke about the tough times this club has had down the years.”
Coughlan supported United growing up and revealed he gave Ten Hag some encouragement. The former Ajax manager has endured a difficult season, losing nine Premier League games and being dumped out of the Champions League in the group stage.
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“It’s tough for him right now,” the 47-year-old added. “I told him to stick in there because that’s what we had to do. We had to show character and resilience at times and that’s exactly what he needs to do at Man United. I wished him all the best.”
Reflecting on his side’s brave performance, Coughlan said: “It’s unfortunate we weren’t quite able to reach our cup final which would have been a replay at Manchester United. That’s the aim we had.
“I thought at 2-2 we had them. I thought they were rattled, they were doing things that were uncharacteristic. We just needed a moment to happen, a moment of quality, but we didn’t test the keeper.