Erik ten Hag hailed “finest participant on the pitch” Bruno Fernandes for his show of “character” as Man Utd improved from what he admitted was “complacency” to beat Betis.
Fernandes was singled out for criticism much more severely than his team-mates following United’s 7-0 thrashing at Liverpool on Sunday, with quite a few moments of petulance elevating questions over his suitability to put on the captain’s armband.
He had been defended by each Ten Hag and Marcus Rashford within the build-up to Thursday’s Europa League last-16 recreation, and responded in one of the best ways doable himself with a player-of-the-match efficiency at Previous Trafford through which he scored one aim and made one other.
“He was the very best participant on the pitch and it confirmed his character. He performed in somewhat little bit of a deeper position tonight, he was sensible,” stated Ten Hag.
“He was a pacesetter in playmaking from deep and controlling the rhythm of the sport. He had quite a lot of good passes in between the traces and from there-on we created quite a lot of probabilities.”
Ten Hag added to BT Sport: “He led the crew from the primary minute by his recreation, with possession, make the rhythm of the sport and rating a aim so I am completely satisfied.”
United’s efficiency at Anfield final weekend was the third time that they had collapsed within the Premier League this season, following hammerings at Brentford and Manchester Metropolis earlier within the marketing campaign.
On every event they’ve bounced again from adversity to win their subsequent match, and confirmed their mettle once more to carry off Betis’ rising momentum after their first-half equaliser, to reply with three unanswered objectives after the break.
Ten Hag revealed after he had already expressed his frustration at his gamers’ latest performances earlier than the Liverpool recreation, however that the consequence at Anfield had laid naked what he had been saying.
Manchester United’s Antony celebrates after scoring his aspect’s second aim in the course of the Europa League spherical of 16 first leg soccer match between Manchester United and Actual Betis on the Previous Trafford stadium in Manchester, Thursday, March 9, 2023. (AP Ph
He stated: “It is not about ignoring [Sunday’s game], we made errors and we obtained hammered for that. We did not management the requirements now we have.
“In case you may say we confirmed complacency, you possibly can by no means do this in high soccer. Within the weeks earlier than [the Liverpool defeat] I used to be not pleased with the efficiency towards Newcastle, I used to be not completely satisfied towards Leicester with the efficiency within the first half.
“Generally you want a nasty consequence to open everybody’s eyes first.”
United named an unchanged line-up from the Anfield defeat towards Betis, and Ten Hag admitted the choice to stay with the identical crew had been motivated by providing them an opportunity to redeem themselves within the Europa League.
He stated: “It was, however I assumed it was the very best line-up once I noticed Betis. We now have performed 23 video games in a row with one loss, and regardless that the twenty fourth was an enormous defeat you can’t ignore the 22 video games earlier than the place this crew has performed very properly.”
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