Ralf Rangnick hailed the influence of Scott McTominay in Manchester United's excellent second-half performance against Brentford.
United were fortunate to go into the break goalless at the Brentford Community Stadium, but playing as the lone holding midfielder McTominay shone after the break and Rangnick said he lifted the performance of the players around him.
The Scot won the ball back to create United's second and third goals, scored by Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford, and his aggression was the spark that lifted the performance level.
Anthony Elanga had given United the advantage just after the break, but it was McTominay who Rangnick reserved his praise for.
"In the first half we were second best in all aspects of the game. In the second half Scott was exemplary, a real leader, he played with authority when we needed it most," he said.
"That had a positively contagious effect on all the players in the centre of the pitch, by winning those duels in the second half we had our counter-attacking moments and we knew we could play with speed and tempo at their goal, make their back three drop back and play in one-v-one sprinting duels."
United were abject in the first half, however, and Rangnick admitted he could find few positives from a first 45 minutes that Brentford had dominated.
"We have to be honest without David and his saves it would have been different. We were second best in almost all aspects." he said.
"Sloppy passing, not strong enough in the centre of the pitch, losing almost all 50/50 balls, didn’t win a single second ball and if we had a few counters we were too nervous on the ball. But there is an opponent on the pitch and they played very aggressively.
"In the second half we did a lot better. Scott won almost all second balls in the second half and we could have scored four or five but I have to admit we couldn’t have complained if we had been 2-0 down."
Rangnick also praised the intensity of Brentford's first-half performance and their ability to make life difficult for United.
“They played extremely aggressive, proactive, brave, with a lot of physicality," he said. "It’s no coincidence they beat teams like Arsenal and dominated then. We were fully aware what kind of game this would be."
