As the Red Devils get ready to commemorate one of their greatests, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag stated on Monday that Bobby Charlton established the bar for what players should achieve at Old Trafford.

On Tuesday, when United plays FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, they will honour Charlton, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 86.

Between 1956 and 1973, Charlton played 758 games and scored 249 goals for the club while representing England at the 1966 World Cup.

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Along with George Best and Denis Law, he is memorialised at a statue outside of Old Trafford.

After the Munich air disaster, the trio—dubbed the club’s “Holy Trinity”—helped United regain its strength in England and Europe.

In 1958, a plane crash that killed 23 people, including eight United players, left only Charlton as a survivor.

“He is in front of Old Trafford with Denis Law and George Best, he is always with us,” said Ten Hag at his pre-match press conference on Monday.

“A huge inspiration for us every day so in every game.”

After dropping their first two group stage matches in the Champions League for the first time, United is in desperate need of a victory on what is anticipated to be a very emotional evening.

“Definitely tomorrow after the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton, their hero, the legend, the giant, I’m sure they will be even more emotional,” added Ten Hag on the United support.

However, following a dismal start to the season, he urged his players to play like Charlton.

United needed a late victory on Saturday to defeat bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United 2-1 despite losing four of their first nine Premier League games.

“Bobby was a legend, a giant not only for Manchester United, but for football,” said Ten Hag.

“His legacy, what he left were the standards, the high standards. We have to live it every day.

“First of all our thoughts are with his family, his wife, his children, his grandchildren, but also what he meant for Manchester United, and the standards he set.

“The last couple of days, they were emphasised.”

Before United’s news conference, a moment of silence was observed, and the club is still working out the details of future commemoration activities with the Charlton family and UEFA.

A book of condolences that Ten Hag and the United team have contributed to was unveiled on Sunday for supporters to offer their thoughts.