The first half performance pleased ten Hag more as United were at their maximum best in those 45 minutes.
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Manchester United ended their three-match winless run in the Premier League when they defeated Brentford on Wednesday night. It was not an easy game as the Red Devils had to dig deep in the second half to get the three points. Despite the difficult manner in which they won the match, manager Erik ten Hag was happy with the team’s display. The first half performance pleased ten Hag more as United were at their maximum best in those 45 minutes.
However, they were able to score only goal through Marcus Rashford to show for their first-half dominance. Either way, that goal was enough to get the maximum points for Man United. “I think [it was] a very good performance. First half we played brilliant football and it’s not easy against a very good Brentford. They defend really compact, high, or really deep, so it’s not easy to create chances,” the manager was quoted as saying by the club’s website during his post-match duties.
“On the ball, it was very good with the big engine – Bruno Fernandes – he played a brilliant game. We had a couple of chances, but we conceded nothing in the first half, so the defence was very good. Second half we concede only one chance and David De Gea was there, a very good save in the one-on-one. In the second half, we were winning duals, and winning fights and that is the way we have to play.”
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Marcus Rashford was yet again brilliant for Manchester United. He scored a well-taken goal in the first half and was a constant threat whenever he had the ball. Speaking about Rashford, ten Hag said, “He played a very good game. I think he was very versatile. He came out of the front line and we used him as the target but he also went out wide. I think the combination between him and Marcel Sabitzer and also Jadon Sancho and Antony [was good].”
“You can talk almost every game about [him] and when he’s not in the game like Sunday [against Newcastle], it’s not good for us. We have to bring him into the game but also he has to take responsibility, and [so do] other players. He has to be ready to get into those [scoring] positions and therefore he needs energy, he needs focus, and he has to bring it every game. Today, a great finish again gives us the three points.”
Erik ten Hag was happy to see Man United continue with their impressive form in their home games. He wants them to carry that form into the away matches too. “We’re happy with that [Old Trafford being a fortress] but it shows that we can do it, we can bring that performance. Now we have to do this in away games, so we have to work on our character and personality to do it. In home games we show personality and character but away we can’t always bring it on the pitch,” he explained.
“I was really happy with the performance of Jadon Sancho and Antony, and Marcel Sabitzer, because they were a threat the whole game. The return of Antony Martial can help us, so we have options. The whole season we play across Europe the most games, more than other teams, so we need the squad, so everyone has to be ready to come in. You see in the end, Victor [Lindelof] coming in for a short period but that makes a difference.”
