United hungry to net trophies
DEMANDS HIGH STANDARDS FROM HIS TROOPS
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said winning trophies is the standard that should be demanded at Old Trafford after beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 on Wednesday and 5-0 on aggregate to reach the League Cup final.
Anthony Martial and Fred scored the goals for Ten Hag’s men in the final 17 minutes of the semifinal, second leg, as United set up a meeting with Newcastle at Wembley on 26 February.
Three managers have left the club since United last won a trophy under Jose Mourinho in 2017.
But Ten Hag is now just one game away from ending that drought in his first season in charge.
“I think we have a good squad so we have to demand and control the high standards,” said the Dutchman. “You have to bring that every game.
“We are Manchester United. When you are a United player you have to match the standards.”
The damage was done for the Red Devils in last week’s 3-0 win at the City Ground in the first leg as Ten Hag was able to rotate his squad with United still involved in four competitions.
He made six changes from the side that beat Reading 3-1 in the FA Cup fourth round last Saturday, with Marcus Rashford among those left on the bench.
Wout Weghorst came closest to breaking the deadlock before half-time when the giant Dutch striker’s header came back off the post, but the game opened up once Ten Hag made changes on the hour mark.
The return of Jadon Sancho came at just the right time to bolster United’s attacking options.
The England international had been sidelined since October due to a combination of mental and physical issues, but made his return just after the hour mark.
Rashford and Martial were introduced alongside Sancho and made an instant impact.
“We have had to make lots of compromises in the season so far so hopefully now they are all available,” added Ten Hag.
Martial slotted home after Rashford’s initial effort was blocked, to open the scoring.
Three minutes later it was 2-0 as Rashford teed up Fred for the simplest of finishes.
A much tougher test now awaits United in Eddie Howe’s high-flying Newcastle. –