Erik ten Hag has shared his assessment of Marcus Rashford’s return to the Manchester United starting lineup and commented on the team’s overall performance in the thrilling 4-3 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Last week, Rashford made headlines for being conspicuously absent from United’s 4-2 win against Newport County due to an “internal disciplinary matter.” The player was pictured in Belfast earlier that week, prompting scrutiny. In response, United released a statement stating that Rashford had taken responsibility for his actions, and the matter had been addressed internally.
Returning to the starting lineup against Wolves, Rashford quickly made an impact by scoring with just his third touch of the game.
Commenting on Rashford’s goal, Ten Hag praised the team effort, stating, “It was a fantastic team goal, and we’ve scored more of such goals, from the build-up, many players involved, we get the switch and score a great goal.”
Highlighting Rashford’s recent form, the Dutch manager noted, “I think what you see consistently is the last games, he has three goals and two assists in three or four games, so the form is coming.”
While Rashford’s goal was a positive for United, the spotlight also fell on Kobbie Mainoo, who scored a sensational 97th-minute wonder goal, securing a dramatic 4-3 victory.
Commending Mainoo’s performance, Ten Hag remarked, “He is making incredible progress. He has great abilities. He is the modern midfield player. He can attack and he can defend. He has the intelligence and the physicality, and he is also composed.”
However, despite the individual successes, Ten Hag expressed mixed feelings about the team’s overall performance. While acknowledging the excitement for neutrals, he admitted, “For the neutral, for the spectator, it is great to see. But as a manager, when you have dominated for an hour and should be three or four up, the way we concede the goals, we should manage it better; it cannot happen.”
The manager’s reflections on the match underscore the contrasting emotions experienced by a manager witnessing both thrilling moments and areas that need improvement. The victory, despite its excitement, prompts a critical assessment of the team’s defensive lapses and the need for more effective management in certain situations.
