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Erik ten Hag will not get carried away with his biggest win as Manchester United manager but was encouraged by “big guy” Marcus Rashford’s brace and the overall performance against Barnsley.
Having bounced back from damaging Premier League losses to Brighton and Liverpool with a 3-0 win at Southampton on Saturday, attention switched to the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
United made light work of League One outfit Barnsley at Old Trafford, where Alejandro Garnacho, Rashford and Christian Eriksen scored two apiece on top of Antony’s spot-kick in a 7-0 thumping.
Asked if it was the perfect night having comprehensively beaten his previous 4-1 best, Ten Hag said: “Yes, you can say (that) – not for me but for the team it’s the perfect night.
“I think we could do everything what we planned to do. I think how we win, next round, scored some great goals, entertained the fans, we worked on our game model, so we are happy. I was not devastated after Liverpool (3-0 defeat). I am not now celebrating.
“We are in a journey and we will see where we are in May because then we have to be good, and then you have to be at your best and, in the meantime, every time progress the team.”
United have scored 10 goals without reply since returning from the international break, with three of those coming from the boots of homegrown forward Rashford.
The 26-year-old scored a career-best 30 goals in Ten Hag’s first season in charge but went off the boil last term, leading to his omission from England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Rashford scored his first goal since March at St Mary’s and confidently added a further two against Barnsley.
“The goals not only have to come from Marcus Rashford,” Ten Hag said.
“We need more goalscorers but I know from my first season here when he scores then it’s easier for the team, more easy when you have players in your squad who is a guarantee for goals.
“Goals make the difference. We all know that in football. You can do a lot of things very good between the boxes but football matches are decided in the box.”
Asked about Rashford’s confidence, Ten Hag said: “Confidence is a big part of it. It’s not everything, there are also other parts, but confidence is a big part.
“And I think Rashford is a big guy. He’s scored so many goals, he’s one in the list of (current) United goalscorers, he is on top of it, so he is a big guy.
“But you are as good as your last game and every time you have to prove it.
“But I have even seen the biggest guys, the biggest football players, when they are not performing and when strikers are not scoring, then they drop in confidence. It doesn’t matter who.”
As for Barnsley boss Darrell Clarke, the boyhood United fan left Old Trafford with a bitter taste in his mouth.
“I have had a go at them. I wasn’t happy with the performance,” he said.
“I know we have come to Man United, who have world-class players, but I wasn’t happy with how we played. Mael (de Gevigney) was the only player who comes out with credit.
“Did the occasion get to some of them? Yes, probably. We have to understand what it takes to be a top player.
“Don’t ever let me hear one of them talking about how bad some Premier League players are. They are miles off. The players were miles off the standards of a top Barnsley player tonight never mind a top Premier League player.
“It was a proud night for myself but it’s been ruined by the performance.”
