Erik ten Hag provides his perspective on Marcus Rashford’s return to scoring in the match yesterday.

Erik ten Hag has provided his analysis of Marcus Rashford’s comeback to the Manchester United starting lineup and shared his thoughts on the team’s overall performance in the exciting 4-3 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Rashford was notably absent from United’s previous 4-2 win against Newport County due to an “internal disciplinary matter,” making headlines last week. He had been spotted in Belfast earlier that week, leading to questions. In response, United issued a statement, indicating that Rashford had taken responsibility for his actions, and the issue had been internally addressed. Making a return to the starting lineup against Wolves, Rashford swiftly made an impact by scoring with only his third touch of the game.

Commenting on Rashford’s goal, Ten Hag commended the collective effort, saying, “It was a fantastic team goal, and we’ve scored more goals like that, involving many players in the build-up, executing a great goal after the switch.”
Acknowledging Rashford’s recent performance, the Dutch manager observed, “Consistently, in the last few games, he has contributed three goals and two assists in three or four games, so his form is improving.”

While Rashford’s goal was a positive highlight for United, attention was also drawn to Kobbie Mainoo, who scored an extraordinary wonder goal in the 97th minute, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory.

Praising Mainoo’s display, Ten Hag commented, “He is making remarkable progress. He possesses exceptional abilities and embodies the modern midfield player, capable of both attacking and defending. With intelligence, physicality, and composure, he excels.”

Despite individual successes, the manager expressed mixed sentiments about the team’s overall performance. While acknowledging the excitement for neutral spectators, he conceded, “For the neutral, for the spectator, it is great to see. But as a manager, when you have dominated for an hour and should be three or four up, the way we concede the goals, we should manage it better; it cannot happen.”

The manager’s reflections highlight the contrasting emotions experienced when witnessing thrilling moments alongside areas that require improvement. The victory, despite its excitement, prompts a critical evaluation of defensive lapses and the need for more effective management in certain situations.