Erik ten Hag wants Manchester United’s breathless added-time comeback victory over Brentford to act as “fuel” for the dressing room and to make it the turning point in their season.
United had been heading for a third successive home league loss and a seventh from 11 games as they trailed after Mathias Jensen’s 26th-minute opener. But Scott McTominay, on as a substitute two minutes before the end of normal time, scored in the third and seventh minute of added time to take United to 12 points from eight matches.
“It has to be a turning point and also a restart,” Ten Hag said. “The spirit is good. The team is together. We have shown that. These games give fuel to the dressing room.
“They know how far they have to go to get results. It can’t be easy going. In football it is eat or get eaten. Too many times in the first half of this season we got eaten by opponents who are more hungry. This can’t be.
“Every player has to deliver that in every second he is on the pitch. That is the demand, the standard, when you do that we have seen last season you get this from a determined team. We were not always determined on every occasion in games [this year] and you get hammered for it. This has to change. We controlled the game, without creating many chances.
“They got some set plays and some opportunities from that. We had some opportunities and then the same story again: we conceded a goal, some decisive moment, totally the wrong decision. Two or three players [to blame]. It sums up our season, such easy giveaways get punished in top football.”
McTominay’s impact was all the more timely given he was nearly sold in the summer. “When there is the right price then every player has a price, but he has a big value, sporting and also economic,” said Ten Hag. “I want to have a player like Scott in the squad. He is Man United in every way – would give his life for the badge. Every minute he will fight.”
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At half-time, Christian Eriksen replaced the disappointing Casemiro. “I wanted more football, one who brings passing distribution, linkup play, so I thought: ‘Bring Christian on’,” Ten Hag said.