Erik ten Hag congratulated Cristiano Ronaldo on his 700th club goal that decided Manchester United's 2-1 win at Everton.
Ronaldo emerged in the 29th minute for the injured Anthony Martial and rifled in his first United goal from open play since April to secure victory at Goodison Park.
"That is really impressive, when you score 700 goals," Ten Hag beamed. "It's a huge performance, I'm really happy for him. I congratulate him on that performance and I'm also happy it's his first goal this season in the Premier League - he had to wait for it and I'm sure there will be more goals.
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"I think every player needs it, even when you are the best in the world, you need it, you need the goals.
"And I worked with many goalscorers, especially them, they need goals in every season to have that feeling, to have the confirmation of the intuition. And once they have some goals, they come in the flow and games go easier. That will happen with him as well."
United have recovered from their 6-3 humbling at City with two away wins in Europe and the Premier League, returning to fifth in the domestic table.
Everton led United through Alex Iwobi's fifth-minute curler but Antony equalised 10 minutes later for his third goal in as many league games before Ronaldo struck in the 44th minute.
United are only a point behind fourth-placed Chelsea and travel to Stamford Bridge on October 22, with third-placed Tottenham due at Old Trafford three days earlier.
"First of all, criticism is normal when you have a defeat, especially in a big game, in a derby," Ten Hag reflected, "so we have to deal with that and you learn lessons.
"We did that, we responded well, already on Thursday. And today, the first 35 minutes were good in and out of possession. It was also good you deal with the setback, a goal against, you are 1-0 down but we respond much better by sticking to the plan, keeping composed and doing your work, doing your job. To turn it around before half-time is good.
"In this moment, we collect the points, it's not looking at the table, we have to win every game - it's our aim. We have to improve every game, we have to improve the process, we have to prepare every game 100 per cent and we demand from the players every game they give their best, they cooperate.
"You see the spirit in this game is really well in the squad - it's not only the 11 players. Again, a sub coming on and scoring a goal, you see Victor Lindelof, Scott McTominay and Rapha Varane coming in, so we do more than 11 players and I am happy with that process."
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