Erik ten Hag said that his team have ‘character’ after they got back to winning ways with a comfortable 4-1 win over Real Betis.
Having been taken apart by Liverpool at the weekend, attentions were firmly on United’s resilience and ability to bounce back as they returned to action in the Europa League.
Marcus Rashford thundered home an early strike, before Antony, Bruno Fernandes and Wout Weghorst put Manchester United in a commanding position in the tie after Ayoze Perez had equalised.
Erik ten Hag was thankful to the fans after they got behind the team despite what they had witnessed on Sunday.
“I think we played a very good game. In both halves,” he said. “At half-time we should have already been 3-0 up but it was 1-1, we made one mistake and were punished for it. But I think we played well, especially in the second half.
“4-1, good goals, and a good performance also, to give something to the fans. They gave us something back as well because they were behind us. We’re very grateful after Sunday.”
The Dutchman was pleased with his side’s reaction to being pegged back just before the interval, saying that his side has ‘character’.
“It’s always [a matter of] seeing how your team reacts after a setback. This was not the first time this season. I think already five or six times we can reset, we can bounce back. This team has character. Big compliment to the team.”
Wout Weghorst was visibly emotional after netting his first goal at Old Trafford and just his second since joining Manchester United in January, while Bruno Fernandes answered some of his critics with a ‘brilliant’ Man of the Match display.
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“He [Weghorst] was so close many times already and he has created so many chances and goals for others by making space. Now he has his goal [at Old Trafford] and he deserved it,” he said of his compatriot.
“For Bruno, I think he was brilliant today. He led the team from the first minute by his game. In possession, he made the rhythm of the game and he scored a goal so I am happy.”
