Manchester United delivered a spirited 2-1 comeback victory over Brentford at Old Trafford, a win powered by what manager Erik ten Hag described as “madness and anger.” United’s emotions were heightened after Brentford’s controversial opening goal, which came while United’s Matthijs de Ligt was off the pitch receiving treatment for a head injury. Despite the early setback, United regrouped and delivered a dominant second-half performance that sealed the win, with Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund providing the crucial goals.
The win marked United’s first Premier League victory and goals in four matches, offering a much-needed boost to their season as they look to rediscover their winning form. In this article, we’ll delve into the key moments of the match, the controversy surrounding Brentford’s opening goal, and Ten Hag’s reaction to the victory.
Controversial Opening Goal Sets the Stage
The controversy began just before halftime when Brentford took the lead through Ethan Pinnock’s header from a corner. The goal came at a time when Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt was off the pitch receiving treatment for a head injury. De Ligt had been involved in multiple physical clashes throughout the first half, and after being bandaged up twice, he was ordered off by the referee for further treatment just before the corner was taken.
United were left vulnerable without one of their key defenders, and Pinnock capitalized on the situation by heading the ball past goalkeeper André Onana. The goal immediately sparked outrage on the United bench. Both Erik ten Hag and his assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy protested the decision, questioning why de Ligt had been forced to leave the pitch when he was ready to continue playing. Their protests earned both coaches yellow cards from the referee.
Ten Hag’s Concerns Over De Ligt’s Injury Incident
In his post-match interview, Ten Hag expressed his frustration over the handling of de Ligt’s injury, which he felt contributed to Brentford’s controversial goal. According to Ten Hag, de Ligt’s head injury had already been treated and was no longer bleeding, which should have allowed him to remain on the field.
“I didn’t understand why Matthijs was sent to the touchline,” Ten Hag explained. “He said to me, ‘It is dry blood, and I have to come off – I don’t know why.’ It was a huge moment because Brentford are very strong at set-pieces, and we were missing one of our best headers in that situation.”
The manager added that the incident added to United’s sense of injustice, which the team later channeled into a determined second-half performance.
ALSO READ:
- Wolves Manager Gary O’Neil Raises Concerns Over Referee Bias After Manchester City’s Last-Minute VAR Controversy
- Thomas Frank Defends Erik ten Hag Amid Manchester United Rumors: A Crucial Premier League Showdown Looms
- Manchester City Snatches Late Victory Against Wolves in Thrilling Premier League Showdown
United’s Powerful Second-Half Response
Despite the frustration of going into halftime 1-0 down, Manchester United emerged from the break with renewed energy. Just two minutes into the second half, Alejandro Garnacho scored a well-taken equalizer, latching onto a loose ball inside the box and firing it into the back of the net. The goal was a turning point for United, who immediately put Brentford on the back foot.
The home side continued to dominate possession and looked increasingly dangerous in attack. In the 66th minute, Rasmus Højlund scored what would be the match-winner, netting his first Premier League goal of the season. Højlund’s strike came after a brilliant run and finish, sending the Old Trafford crowd into a frenzy.
Højlund’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as the young striker had missed the start of the season due to injury. Ten Hag praised his contribution, emphasizing that United had missed having Højlund’s physical presence and clinical finishing in previous matches.
“Madness and Anger” Fuel United’s Comeback
Reflecting on the match, Ten Hag explained that the team’s second-half comeback was driven by a sense of “madness and anger” over the perceived injustice of Brentford’s opening goal. The manager revealed that the team used their frustration as motivation to turn the game around.
“You see how we turned it around – we felt some injustice and used it as fuel, the madness and anger,” Ten Hag said. “I really enjoyed the performance, especially in the second half.”
While the win was a significant morale boost for United, Ten Hag was quick to downplay the idea that it represented a turning point in their season. Instead, he emphasized the importance of consistency and maintaining momentum over the coming weeks.
“It’s just one win,” Ten Hag remarked. “The last block of matches, we didn’t win enough, but we only lost one game, and that was when we were down to 10 men. The only thing we had to do was score goals, and today we scored two great goals.”
A Much-Needed Boost for Manchester United
The victory over Brentford marked United’s first league win since beating Southampton 3-0 four games ago. It also ended a goal drought that had seen the team fail to score in their previous three Premier League matches. For Ten Hag, the return to winning ways is a positive step, but he remains focused on improving the team’s overall performances.
The manager pointed to Højlund’s return from injury as a key factor in United’s ability to score goals, but he also highlighted the need for other players to contribute in front of goal. “We have enough players with scoring abilities,” Ten Hag said. “Today we scored two great goals, and we need to keep building on that.”
Looking Ahead
While the victory over Brentford was a hard-fought and emotionally charged result, Manchester United still have work to do if they hope to challenge for a top-four spot this season. The team has shown glimpses of its potential, but consistency remains a concern. With key players like Rasmus Højlund regaining fitness and form, United will be looking to build on this victory as they face tougher challenges ahead.
As United prepare for their next Premier League fixtures, Erik ten Hag will be hoping that his squad can continue to channel the “madness and anger” that fueled their comeback win against Brentford into more positive results in the weeks to come.
