NEW DELHI: Manager Erik ten Hag believes that Manchester United's dramatic comeback win against Brentford could serve as a pivotal moment for the club after a challenging start to the season. United rallied from a goal down at Old Trafford to secure a 2-1 victory in the Premier League on Saturday, with substitute Scott McTominay scoring two stoppage-time goals.
The 20-time top-flight champions had entered the match on the heels of a disappointing 3-2 home loss to Turkish side Galatasaray in the Champions League group stage and a 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace in the league.
Ten Hag expressed his hopes for a turning point, stating, "It has to be a turning point and also a restart. The spirit is good. The team is together. We have shown that. These games give fuel to the dressing room."
He emphasised the need for determination and hunger in the team, highlighting the competitive nature of football, saying, "They know how far they have to go to get results. It can't be easy going. In football, it is eat or get eaten. Too many times in the first half of this season, we got eaten by opponents who are more hungry. This can't be."
Ten Hag called for a higher standard of performance from every player, stressing that determination on the pitch is the demand and the standard. He pointed out that last season's success came from a determined team, something that hasn't always been evident this year.
United's defensive vulnerabilities were exposed when they conceded a goal in the 26th minute against Brentford. Casemiro's giveaway and Victor Lindelof's failure to clear the ball led to Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen slotting it past goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Ten Hag lamented these moments of poor decision-making and easy giveaways, stating, "We had some opportunities and then the same story again: we conceded a goal, some decisive moment, totally the wrong decision." He attributed these lapses to a lack of determination, emphasising that such mistakes are punished in top-level football.
Manchester United will be eager to build on this comeback victory as they seek to improve their form and competitiveness in the Premier League and other competitions.
(With inputs from Reuters)
