Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag praised his team’s performance in their 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, which moved them up to third in the Premier League table. The win came after United let a two-goal lead slip against Sevilla in the Europa League midweek, meaning they take a 2-2 draw into the second leg of the quarter-final tie this week. Ten Hag admitted that his team “f***** up” against Sevilla but said that the victory over Forest had restored confidence in the camp.
Speaking after the game, Ten Hag said that it was a “very solid performance” from start to finish, with everyone concentrating and not allowing Forest any chances except some from set pieces. He added that United created a lot and scored two great goals, but he would have liked them to score more given the number of chances they created.
Ten Hag stressed the importance of focusing on the game plan rather than just securing a top-four finish. He said that mentally, it was important to get a win against Forest and that the points were much more valuable now than at the start of the season. He also warned that there are no easy games in the Premier League and that United must stay focused and bring their best performance every game.
Looking ahead to the second leg against Sevilla, Ten Hag said that his team had learned from their mistakes and could not afford to make them again. He called for a great performance to win in Seville and progress to the next round of the Europa League.
Overall, Ten Hag was pleased with his team’s response to their midweek disappointment and hoped that they could build on this victory in their next game.