Erik ten Hag asserted his conviction that Manchester United is “back” and commended their defensive performance, despite facing 23 shots in their 2-0 victory over Everton on Saturday.
The Red Devils secured the win with two first-half penalties, making Bruno Fernandes the club’s all-time leading scorer from the spot and Marcus Rashford adding a second goal. Despite the triumph, United had fewer shots than their opponents, with Everton registering 23 to United’s 15. However, United’s expected goals were higher at 2.56 compared to Everton’s 1.48, although this figure was influenced by the two penalties.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Ten Hag emphasized the team’s effective defensive display, highlighting that Everton’s chances were not clear-cut. He stated, “We defended very well. Our expected goals are much higher than them. We are defending low-quality chances. Sometimes we are defending very low, and we can do that very well.”
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Ten Hag acknowledged the significance of the win, stating, “It was important. We had one bad result against Fulham in this calendar year. We had to put this right and keep the pressure on the teams above us. There are many games to play. Now we are back. We will keep pressure on them and see what happens.”
Despite recent defensive challenges, United’s win closed the gap to fourth-placed Aston Villa to five points. When asked about United’s overall performance, Ten Hag expressed satisfaction with their attacks and counter-attacks but suggested room for improvement in ball retention and decision-making. He noted, “We could have been calmer and more composed on the ball. Everton did well and pressed high, which gave us lots of chances behind.”
United’s pursuit of a higher standing continues as they aim to capitalize on opportunities in the remaining matches.