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Erik ten Hag hails "great spirit" in Manchester United squad

sportsmole.co.uk, 2 February 2024, 13:27
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that Thursday's 4-3 success over Wolverhampton Wanderers demonstrated the "great spirit in the squad".

Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund both registered to put Man United 2-0 ahead inside 22 minutes at Molineux, but the Red Devils failed to add to their tally at the end of the first half or start of the second despite a number of excellent chances.

Wolves made it 2-1 from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, before Scott McTominay registered a third for visitors, but Gary O'Neil's side then netted twice through Max Kilman and Pedro Neto to leave the two teams level at 3-3 heading into the final stages.

Man United were not finished, though, winning it in the 97th minute courtesy of Kobbie Mainoo's first Premier League goal.

The Red Devils have lost 14 times in all competitions during a testing campaign, while there have been suggestions of more unrest in the dressing room, but Ten Hag has insisted that the success over Wolves was an indication of how the players are pulling in the same direction.

"There's a great spirit in the squad, in this dressing room. We are on the pitch all together and that's very good to see," Ten Hag told reporters following the clash at Molineux.

"You see the determination, you see the resilience of this squad. They are so eager to get the right results and they want to play good football.

"Of course we should do better and it was also [the case] early in the season when we totally dominate and then we give it away. We should take more responsibility in such moments and we have so much experience in the team. We should manage that."

Ten Hag also praised Rashford for his contribution, with the England international overcoming a difficult week to play a vital role in Man United recording their 11th league win of the campaign.

"Sure [he needed his goal]. But it was a fantastic team goal. We scored more such goals from building up. Many players involved, get it switched and score a great goal," he said.

"I think what you see consistently is the last games when he has three goals and I think two assists in I think three or four matches."

Ten Hag also hailed Mainoo, adding: "He is making incredible progress. He has great abilities, he is the modern midfield player. He can defend and attack but also he has the physicality to do both ways. He is also composed."

Man United sit seventh in the Premier League table, one point behind sixth-placed West Ham ahead of Sunday's clash between the two teams at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils will then take on Aston Villa, Luton Town and Fulham in the league ahead of a trip to either Bristol City or Nottingham Forest in the fifth round of the FA Cup later this month.

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