Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes praised Alejandro Garnacho after he scored the vital goal in the Red Devils' stunning 2-1 win away at Fulham.
The United star was speaking after an interesting battle at Craven Cottage that saw his side on the back foot for much of the second half before snatching all three points via Garnacho's winner right at the end.
Discussing United's man of the hour, Fernandes explained: "He has a lot of talent and obviously his work rate together with the talent makes a difference for us, it not the first time he makes a big impact for us and we know he can give us goals and assists."
"I think everyone is seeing signs of that, not because of goals and assists – coming from bench, no one likes to be on the bench so the attitude he has when comes off bench has been fantastic, so he deserves the rewards he is getting."
Christian Eriksen put the visitors in front relatively early on as he latched on to a deflected Fernandes pass to tap beyond the helpless Bernd Leno. That did not dent the hosts confidence however, as Fulham carried on banging on David de Gea's door.
United's goalkeeper looked to be in inspired form at times, thwarting solid efforts from the likes of Carlos Vinicius and Tim Ream, but he was eventually beaten by Dan James just minutes after the Welshman was introduced off the bench.
The ex-Old Trafford talent was quickest to respond to an inviting pass across the face of goal and squeezed his close range effort past the Spanish shot-stopper.
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He may have thought he had proved to be the hero for Fulham when he levelled things in the second half, but it wasn't to be.
Garnacho was set to be the star of the show with his dramatic winner right at the very death - marking the Argentine's first Premier League goal for the club. He was put through on goal after a neat one-two with Eriksen and kept his composure to calmly dispatch his effort.
The teenage sensation was mobbed by his teammates come the full-time whistle as well as his manager.
At just 18 years of age, the former Atletico Madrid academy prospect displays the kind of confidence that borders on arrogance every young talent requires to make it to the very top of the game.
His mentality and attitude have been up for discussion in recent weeks after Fernandes himself claimed it left plenty to be desired at the start of the season, but Ten Hag leapt to his defence after the game.
Asked whether the "arrogance" Garnacho has is a positive, the United boss replied with similar sentiments to Fernandes as he added: "It's a big skill he has, it is always find the balance but that skill you need definitely in the top. He came in, make a big impact as he did on Thursday, so well done."
It has been a remarkable month for Garnacho, who registered two assists in half an hour against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup last week after notching his first United goal in the Europa League away at Real Sociedad the week prior.
The last-gasp goal means United now breathe down the necks of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, with Ten Hag's troops just three points behind Antonio Conte's men having played a game fewer.
