Erik ten Hag on Scott McTominay Amid Summer Exit Rumors

Erik ten Hag on Scott McTominay Amid Summer Exit Rumors

After Scott McTominay scored his fifth and sixth goals of the season against Chelsea, Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag said that the midfielder is now a key component of his plans.

The Scotland international scored twice in Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea, bringing his total goals this season to six across all competitions and five in the Premier League.

During the summer, McTominay was strongly linked to a move away from Old Trafford; it is thought that both Fulham and West Ham United tried to sign him.

Erik ten Hag on Scott McTominay Amid Summer Exit Rumors

The 26-year-old, however, decided to stay with Man United, and Ten Hag has stated that the group is trying to make the most of his abilities, highlighting the midfielder’s significance to the group.

He is skilled enough to know when to arrive and how to get there at the appropriate time. The snout belongs to him. Ten Hag told reporters following the victory over Chelsea, “And then he has a very good finish.”

However, when it comes to dynamics, he can be lower or deeper at different moments. However, our strategy, planning, and overall plan frequently revolve around our desire for him to be high.

“The team must thus enable him to rise up high, get into positions where he is close to a striker, and then make a run.

“And he smells great when he gets there, like I mentioned. He also has a really strong finish after that. The group then needs to ensure that we follow him with the ball.

Read More: Mauricio Pochettino Analyses Chelsea’s Energy Gap in Defeat to Manchester United

“It is our responsibility to place the players in the appropriate spots. However, that means that in addition to playing deeper, other players must also use their finest abilities. And it all comes down to placing players in advantageous locations on the field and utilising their abilities and qualities.”

Following the match against Chelsea, McTominay stated to MUTV, “I want to keep improving in terms of my game. People tell me that all I need to do is believe in myself, and I can score goals and accomplish more.

“My grandfather at home and my parents have always advised me to just put myself in the box and try to score goals; sometimes it’s as simple as believing in yourself,” I’m content as long as the team is performing well and I’m making a contribution.”

Although McTominay only saw seven minutes of action in Man United’s opening four Premier League games of the season, he has been a mainstay in the starting lineup since mid-September.

In addition, the midfield player has now played the whole ninety minutes in each of his team’s previous six league games.

Ten Hag also gave Antony credit for his performance against Chelsea, as the Brazilian may have had his best game of the year in the 2-1 victory.

Manchester United defeats Brentford thanks to a late double from Scott McTominay

Manchester United defeats Brentford thanks to a late double from Scott McTominay

Manchester United defeated Brentford 2-1 in Premier League stoppage time on Saturday. Scott McTominay scored twice in the second half.

Mathias Jensen put Brentford ahead in the 26th minute, and the Bees led well into stoppage time at Old Trafford, leaving the home side facing a third consecutive home defeat in all competitions.

McTominay leveled the scores in the third minute of extra time at the end of the 90, before scoring again in the 97th minute to win a massive victory for the 20-time English champions.

The victory puts the Red Devils in ninth place in the table with 12 points, four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, and Brentford in 14th place with seven points.

Aaron Hickey had space on the edge of the box in the fifth minute for Brentford, but his drive was just over the crossbar.

Manchester United defeats Brentford thanks to a late double from Scott McTominay

Manchester United regained possession of the ball in the following stanza, but the Red Devils were having difficulty creating openings, with Rasmus Hojlund struggling for support.

Brentford scored in the 26th minute, and it was another poor goal conceded by Man United, as Yoane Wissa was allowed to drive into the box before rebounding the ball off Victor Lindelof, and it then fell for Jansen, who found a way into the back of the net.

Andre Onana was once again defeated far too easily, with the Manchester United goalkeeper letting the ball slip through his clutches despite appearing to be in position to save it.

Marcus Rashford forced Brentford goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha into a smart save in the 37th minute, before Bryan Mbeumo fired one just wide of the post at the other end.

Wissa headed a Bruno Fernandes free kick over his own crossbar shortly before the break, before Brentford had the final chance of the first half, with Kristoffer Ajer’s header bouncing past the post.

Substitute In the 53rd minute, Christian Eriksen forced a smart save from Strakosha, while Diogo Dalot cleared one off the line down the other end, with Ajer flicking towards the near post.

Rashford shot one wide of the post in the 56th minute, and Dalot floated one over the crossbar just beyond the hour, with Manchester United trying to tie the game.

In the 64th minute, Hojlund fired into the side netting, then Strakosha was called upon to save a strike by Fernandes, who had struck from distance.

In the 77th minute, Alejandro Garnacho hit the crossbar before Onana made a fine save down the other end to tip a Neal Maupay shot over his net.

Manchester United believed they had leveled the scores with an own goal in the closing stages, but Anthony Martial was flagged for offside, and Brentford retained the lead.

McTominay picked out the bottom corner with a brilliant attempt after the ball had bounced back to him following some bad defending in the third minute of added time at the end of the 90.

McTominay then won it for the Red Devils in the 97th minute with a powerful header from a Harry Maguire flick, relieving pressure on head coach Erik ten Hag with a vital triumph that gave the club four victories and four loses from eight league games this season.

error: Content is protected !!