After Manchester United’s 2-1 Erik ten Hag was delighted with the team’s last minute winner against a Fulham side, who played extremely well.
United were made to work hard for the win against the Cottagers but Alejandro Garnacho’s last minute winner was enough to hand United all three points in London.
Erik ten Hag gave his post-match reaction to MUTV, and told the club’s media team that he was pleased with the unity that the team have shown this season.
“It’s good and I think we came from far this season with the fans, with this team, with this club, the togetherness – now it’s back and we have to keep that. We have to invest in both sides, the fans and the players together, to [build] a new United. We have to make a new history.”
The togetherness and fighting spirit is arguably what helped United get over the line against Fulham as the hosts’ had a number of chances to win the game, only to be denied by David De Gea, who pulled off a number of key saves. The element of togetherness is evident because it could be argued that United would have lost this type of game last season.
18-year-old Garnacho came off the bench to win the game for United, and the manager was asked about what the youngster brings to this United side.
“I like good football, I like good footballers and he is one who can entertain, but in the end, it is about end product and that is what he brings into the team. He had some good dribbles, maybe already a penalty moment, but in the end, he kept going.”
Even though the goal was well-taken by Garnacho, the team build-up and the pass to the Argentine by Christian Eriksen, who scored his first goal in United colours, should be appreciated as to pick out that pass with that level of calmness in the final moments is impressive, which was something that ten Hag acknowledged in his post-match interview.
“Great pass from Christian Eriksen, great build-up from the whole team, because it was really composed, how we played that. But the assist and the finish from Garnacho are really brilliant.”
The 2-1 win over Fulham was United’s final game before the World Cup and with a number of players going away to represent their national team at the World Cup, ten Hag was asked about the upcoming break after what has been a hectic schedule for him and Man United.
“Yes, of course, you have to take time when it is there and we will do. Also to know that from [19 or 20] December we continue until May and that is a long way, but also we have work to do. We have to analyse, but especially making plans, strategies how we continue.”