Erik ten Hag is proud of the resilience Manchester United showed in the home victory against Brentford. Shortly after the 2-1 win, his anger over the incident with Matthijs de Ligt around the conceded goal had not yet fully subsided.
In the final moments of the first half, Manchester United found themselves in a controversial situation involving defender Matthijs de Ligt, as referee Samuel Barrott instructed him to leave the pitch for further treatment to a head wound.
De Ligt, who had already been treated for a head injury earlier in the match after a collision with Brentford’s Kevin Schade, was ordered off the field once again after the referee determined the wound had reopened and begun to bleed. Without De Ligt, Brentford immediately took advantage of his absence. Ethan Pinnock rose unchallenged to head the ball into the back of the net, putting Brentford 1-0 ahead and leaving Manchester United visibly frustrated.
The timing of the goal was especially frustrating for United, as it came just before halftime and in a period when they were trying to build momentum. Ten Hag expressed his disappointment and confusion after the match, particularly at the decision to remove De Ligt from the field at such a critical moment. "It wasn’t necessary," Ten Hag argued to the press. "De Ligt’s wound wasn’t bleeding again; it was dried blood, and he had already received treatment for it. We didn’t understand why the referee sent him off again. Brentford is a very dangerous team from set pieces, and we were without one of our best headers. It was a key moment in the match."
Despite this setback, Ten Hag praised the resilience of his team, who managed to turn the game around in the second half. Rasmus Højlund, preferred in the starting lineup over Joshua Zirkzee, played a pivotal role in United’s comeback. The Danish striker, who has been gradually integrating into the squad after an injury at the start of the season, justified Ten Hag’s decision to start him by scoring the match-winning goal. After a well-executed buildup by Bruno Fernandes, Højlund delicately lobbed the ball over the Brentford goalkeeper to secure the 2-1 win for United. "He played really well today," Ten Hag said of Højlund. "His combination play was excellent, and he showed the composure that we missed earlier in the season when he was out. His goal was a perfect example of that calm finishing ability."
This win marked a crucial turnaround for Manchester United, as they finally broke a five-match winless streak, moving them back into the top half of the Premier League table. The pressure had been mounting on Ten Hag and the squad after a series of disappointing results, but the Dutch manager remained level-headed, urging caution in both victory and defeat. "I don’t want to get too carried away," Ten Hag commented. "Just as I didn’t let the negative results affect us too much, we shouldn’t overestimate this win. It’s a step in the right direction, but we need to be consistent. The only poor game we’ve had was against Tottenham when we went down to ten men. In all the other matches, we showed good character and resilience, which is something we can build on. But we can’t rest on this result alone. It’s just one win, and we need to approach every game with the same intensity."
While this result offered a much-needed boost to morale, Ten Hag remains focused on ensuring the team maintains its momentum in the upcoming fixtures. United’s ability to overcome adversity in this match both the controversial decision to remove De Ligt and the pressure of recent results highlighted the team’s growing resilience. However, Ten Hag is aware that consistency will be key if United are to climb further up the table and challenge for honors this season.
As Manchester United look ahead to their next matches, this hard-fought victory over Brentford could serve as a turning point. Ten Hag’s tactical choices, such as starting Højlund and placing faith in Bruno Fernandes to lead the midfield, paid off, and the team’s fighting spirit was evident throughout. Nonetheless, Ten Hag knows the importance of maintaining a grounded perspective, focusing on building consistency, and ensuring his players continue to develop the fighting mentality that was on display against Brentford.
For now, Manchester United can savor the relief of returning to winning ways, but Ten Hag’s message is clear: this is just the beginning, and the team must stay focused to ensure further success in the matches ahead.
