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."



The Camera Never Lies: Electronic Line Calls in Focus Again as Zverev Takes Photo of Ball Mark 

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)
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The Camera Never Lies: Electronic Line Calls in Focus Again as Zverev Takes Photo of Ball Mark 

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)
Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - April 27, 2025 Germany's Alexander Zverev takes a picture of the court with a phone during his round of 32 match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. (Reuters)

Alexander Zverev is convinced there was a defect in the electronic line calling system during his Madrid Open win on Sunday after the German risked a hefty fine by pulling out his phone to take a photograph of a contested call.

The top seed overcame Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 2-6 7-6(3) 7-6(0) to reach the last 16 of the claycourt tournament but was frustrated by an incident in the second set when a backhand from his opponent was called in by the tracking technology.

Zverev appealed to chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani to take a look but was rebuffed, and the world number two was then warned for unsportsmanlike conduct after pulling his phone out of his bag and taking a picture of the spot.

"I honestly think there was a defect in the system. There was a mistake in the system in that moment," said Zverev, who later posted the photo on Instagram.

"It's not like one millimeter in, one millimeter out, it was like four-five centimeters. That's why I went to the umpire and said 'Please, come down to have a look at this, I'm not crazy'."

Reuters has contacted the ATP for comment.

Earlier this month, women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka also took a photo of a disputed ball mark during a match in Stuttgart and was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The ATP has adopted the line calling system for all of its tournaments from this year, and while Zverev said he was a fan of the technology he was shocked by the incident in Madrid.

"It's going to be interesting to see what happens now, what kind of fine I'll get, even though I'm right," he said.

"I hope I don't get a fine, because obviously, in my opinion, I'm completely in the right and I should not get fined for this."