Man Utd Boss Ten Hag Says Brentford Win No More Important than Any Other

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Brentford - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 19, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrates with assistant manager Rene Hake after Rasmus Hojlund scored their second goal REUTERS/Molly Darlington
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Brentford - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 19, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrates with assistant manager Rene Hake after Rasmus Hojlund scored their second goal REUTERS/Molly Darlington
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Man Utd Boss Ten Hag Says Brentford Win No More Important than Any Other

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Brentford - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 19, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrates with assistant manager Rene Hake after Rasmus Hojlund scored their second goal REUTERS/Molly Darlington
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Brentford - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 19, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrates with assistant manager Rene Hake after Rasmus Hojlund scored their second goal REUTERS/Molly Darlington

While Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Brentford was their first win in more than a month, and came amid a cloud of speculation around Erik ten Hag's job, the manager said it had no more significance than any other result.

Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund scored as United came back after conceding to climb up to 11th in the Premier League standings.

The victory at Old Trafford came a day after Ten Hag said rumblings about his job were media "fairytales and lies".

Asked if it could be a turning point in the season, Ten Hag said: "No, it is just a win. The pressure is always there. We have to win every game, Reuters reported.

"Every game we win is important. This team, you see the togetherness, a fighting spirit. Today we had some determination to score goals, and that's what we need. Today we scored two brilliant goals and we are very pleased with it."

United kicked off the game level with Crystal Palace for the league's fewest goals scored this season (five) which Ten Hag blamed on his team's horrible start to the season.

"This team has the capacity to score very good goals," the Dutchman said. "Today the two goals we scored were high quality and when you score and win you add confidence.

"At the start of the season we had some good performances but didn't score enough, then everyone is negative.

"This result can help us, but it is only one win and we must build on it."

Ten Hag had high praise for Marcus Rashford, who has been the target of criticism from fans but had a superb game including a pinpoint cross that found Garnacho at the back post for United's first goal.

"Really enjoyed how he played, you see what he's capable of, a lot," Ten Hag said. "We want this every game, really intense and then a brilliant cross. Starts with fighting spirit. When we all bring this we have a team that can play for trophies."



PSG May Be Spared from Facing Rashford and Watkins Double Act in the Champions League

Football - Premier League - Southampton v Aston Villa - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 12, 2025 Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford shoots at goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Southampton v Aston Villa - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 12, 2025 Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford shoots at goal. (Reuters)
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PSG May Be Spared from Facing Rashford and Watkins Double Act in the Champions League

Football - Premier League - Southampton v Aston Villa - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 12, 2025 Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford shoots at goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Southampton v Aston Villa - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 12, 2025 Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford shoots at goal. (Reuters)

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery suggested he is not ready to unleash Marcus Rashford and Ollie Watkins as a strike partnership against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Villa needs to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the first leg when the teams meet at Villa Park.

But Emery does not think England internationals Rashford and Watkins can play as a front two yet.

“The next step, if I have time, is to play them together,” he told a news conference Monday. “We did with Rashford playing left side, but now we are choosing more with both playing as strikers. That’s the next step. I want to practice. I want to test, but not now, with enough time.”

Rashford has impressed during a loan spell from Manchester United, with three goals in recent weeks. Watkins has scored 15 this season, including one to set up a 3-0 win against Southampton on Saturday after coming on as a substitute.

Emery said Watkins feels “fantastic,” but he is still to decide what team to play against French champion PSG.

“I don’t have my idea in my mind for the starting 11, I have my idea, a plan, overall 90 minutes or extra-time or penalty shootout for the match tomorrow,” he said. “Every player has to know their task on the field, and they have to understand as well, how we manage the match emotionally and tactically as well, in case they are on the field to do their task.”

Emery said his players have to believe they can produce an epic comeback to book their place in the semifinals.

“We want to write here the history with Aston Villa,” he said.