Erik ten Hag “really enjoyed” two Man United stars vs Brentford, it’s bad news for £20m signing

Erik ten Hag has admitted that he “really enjoyed” the performances of two Manchester United stars against Brentford, which may spell bad news for a £20m signing.

Manchester United staged a thrilling 2-1 comeback against Brentford at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, securing a vital win after falling behind.

Brentford took the lead just before half-time when Ethan Pinnock headed in from a corner. But United responded in the second half, with Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund finding the net, thanks to perfectly timed assists from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes.

Read More: Manchester United hit with double injury update amid fantastic Brentford win

Matthijs de Ligt was a standout in defence, bravely playing through a head injury that left him bloodied in the first half but didn’t stop him from delivering an impressive performance.

This crucial victory lifts United back into the top half of the Premier League, as they fight to recover from their poor start to the 2024/25 season.

Ten Hag “really enjoyed” two stars

In his post-match press conference, Ten Hag was asked how he felt about the performances of Garnacho and Rashford, who operated the left and right flanks respectively, which is a reversal of their usual positions.

“Really enjoyed today how he played,” Ten Hag said of Rashford. “You see what he is capable of. We want to see this every game, because then you see what he can contribute to the team. Really intense and then a brilliant cross. I thought the finish was also brilliant but the cross was really enjoyable to watch.

“I think we all know he is capable of a lot and when he has this attitude then he will score, as he did in Porto. But also giving assists, what he did in Porto and did today.

“But it starts also with fighting spirit and 100 per cent intensity. When we bring all this on the pitch, we have a team that can progress and play for trophies this season.”

Further, Ten Hag praised Garnacho for his display but challenged the 20-year-old to beat his 10-goal tally from last season to continue his development as a winger.

“He has to if he wants to be a better player,” Ten Hag explained. “I know what he is capable of, that is why I play him so often. He is a threat and has scoring abilities but also a threat in one-v-ones, making key actions and giving assists to the team.

“The end product is definitely what we need and missed in the first games of the season.”

Bad news for Amad Diallo

Many were surprised when Garnacho was named on the teamsheet over Amad Diallo, considering that the Ivorian international had been one of United’s best players up to this point.

Amad, who signed from Atalanta for £20 million in January 2021, was an unused substitute against Brentford. Ten Hag did not mention that the winger’s illness last week may have affected the team selection, signalling that it was a tactical decision.

The Dutch manager has shown he is keen to play Rashford and Garnacho as often as possible. The Argentine winger, in particular, started almost 40 fixtures in a row last campaign for the Reds.

Amad will have to work hard to regain his place in the starting XI, considering Ten Hag’s leniency towards the aforementioned players.

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