Manchester United Triumphs Over Brentford

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes the team’s comeback victory against Brentford showcases the “togetherness” of his squad. Despite Ten Hag’s pre-match dismissal of media speculation about his job security, the mood at Old Trafford was tense as United sat 14th in the Premier League standings at kickoff. Matthijs de Ligt had to leave the field to treat a head wound during first-half stoppage time leaving United briefly with 10 men.

Shortly after, they conceded a goal from a Brentford corner. However, instead of succumbing to their frustrations, United channeled their feelings into a determined second-half performance. Ten Hag stated, “In the second half, we showed determination and scored two beautiful goals.” Alejandro Garnacho scored a sensational equalizer right after the break, followed by Rasmus Hojlund’s deft chipped finish which gave Manchester United the lead.

Although they had several chances to extend their advantage, the victory was crucial especially with a Europa League match against Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on the horizon. While Ten Hag acknowledged the importance of the win, he cautioned that the pressure remains high, saying, “The pressure is always there. We have to win every game.”

He emphasized the need for more consistent goal-scoring, pointing out that before this match, Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo had outscored the entire United team in the league. The manager expressed faith in his players, stating, “This team has the capacity to score very good goals,” and stressed the need to build on this success.

Regarding the controversial decision to remove De Ligt, Ten Hag was critical arguing that the player had already received treatment and should not have left the field. Brentford’s goal scored while De Ligt was off became a point of contention, highlighting the frustrations on both sides.