Erik ten Hag says Manchester United must turn season around after Brentford win
Erik ten Hag breathed a heavy sigh of relief earlier on Saturday when substitute Scott McTominay came on to spare his side’s blushes against Brentford, with the midfielder scoring twice in stoppage time to turn a defeat into a win.
Up until that point, Brentford had defended their one-goal advantage with relative ease but Ten Hag’s substitutions helped change the game, with Alejandro Garnacho again proving to be a difference-maker off the bench.
United have experienced a turbulent start to the season, winning four and losing as many in their opening eight Premier League games of the season. Additionally, they are with their backs against the wall in the Champions League, failing to secure any points after two games.
Speaking after the game against Brentford, Ten Hag admitted that United’s stunning turnaround against Brentford has to be the side’s turning point and that things must change for the better now.
“Not all positive, we gave the first goal away. It was so disappointing to see that, after Tuesday as well when we were so dominant in the game and then concede. It can’t be this way,” Ten Hag told BBC Match of the Day.
“This has to be the turning point, the reset, in our approach, our attitudes, as a team and as individuals. From the start of a game you have to believe, the fans believed and kept behind us, we need to match that.”
The Dutchman explained further that the game against Brentford epitomised United’s start to the campaign but was happy with the response and belief.
“Relief. It sums up the whole season. You start the game doing OK, not top but OK,” he added.
“But then you give away a goal that should not happen. A wrong decision to take a free kick quickly when not everyone is in position, we lose the ball then lose the battle in the box and go behind.
“We kept going, we kept the belief and we kept fighting. Then we get the reward in the end, we made our own luck.”
Ten Hag now has two weeks to work with his non-international players and that time will also allow some first-team regulars to regain vital fitness. Raphael Varane was the latest player to drop out of the side due to injury but the Frenchman only sustained a minor problem and should be fine to feature when club football resumes.
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