Ten Hag: All my players were brilliant

Saturday 14 January 2023 16:14

Erik ten Hag was understandably delighted with his Manchester United side’s 2-1 win over City in the derby.

The Reds came from behind, after conceding to Jack Grealish’s header, to secure a priceless triumph in front of the passionate home fans at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes equalised before Marcus Rashford finished Alejandro Garnacho’s centre to send the place into delirium.

The boss spoke to the official broadcasters, including BT Sport, BBC and, of course, MUTV, after the game and gave his view on a memorable afternoon…

GOOD FIRST HALF

“The first half, we played very well. We defended very well and were proactive. We break quickly, with opportunities we create on the break, so I was really happy at half-time with that. We should be 1-0 up but wasn’t. After half-time, we had to sub Anthony Martial because he had some complaints. It changed the game and we were not proactive any more. Just before I want to change, they score.”

BRUNO’S EQUALISER

“If you are the opposition, I can see the team are unhappy with this situation but Bruno was scoring from the back and not in an offside position. Of course, he brings hesitation from the centre-halves, to the opposition, and we take advantage. It’s a difficult situation. It’s a grey area. But, when you see back the approach, Bruno was in an onside position and he scored. I can see on the other side – it confused the backline, it’s clear but, also, that’s the rule. I would not be happy when my team, as well, concede a goal like this so I can see the disappointment on the other side but I can see the other side as well.”

RASHFORD’S RESILIENCE

“I’m really happy, of course, with his performance. He believes once again, he keeps going, he will always get his moment. In the first half, he had a one-on-one with the goalie and one really good situation and more came off disappointed he hadn’t scored. But then he scored! Players have to be resilient, you get kicked in a game and obviously it happened. It hurts but you have to keep going and you have to do it to get the right result, the right performance. Fight and deal with that, even if it keeps on being painful. You have to contribute to the game. You have to deal with it. He did today and got rewarded for it, the team got rewarded for it. In top football, you have to suffer, sacrifice in getting the right result.”

BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES

It was more of a team performance. I’ve seen a lot of brilliant players on my side today. I mention Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw. I have to mention Fred. I definitely have to mention Bruno, he was really brilliant. And what do you think about Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tyrell Malacia? I think all my players were brilliant.”

TACTICAL CHANGES

“We had to sub Martial and then we played with Antony as the striker. It didn’t work as he’s better on the right side, obviously. In the first half, Bruno was brilliant, on the right, on the left, in and out of possession. In the striker position, I wanted to change it just before the goal came and to bring Antony dos Santos over to the right.”

SPIRIT IN THE CAMP

“I think we have seen it, all in this process, always going, there is fight and spirit in this team. They can deal with setbacks. There was a difficult stage of the game but we came stronger and stronger. The first 30 minutes after half-time were really difficult for us. They were finding players between the lines like Kyle Walker especially. It was difficult and we could not deal with it the whole time but there’s also something about the spirit. We keep believing in a good result, that is what the team did and I have to value that. It was a good performance in an important game.”

UP NEXT

“We go game by game. We think about Crystal Palace and the next game. We have to go celebrate for 24 hours and then we go to Palace and we have to prepare, the team has to prepare themsleves and get the energy and the right focus. It is all about that. We have to train. I have to prepare the team for the next battle.”

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Saturday 14 January 2023 16:14

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