What Rasmus Hojlund did with Bruno Fernandes after Manchester United goal spoke volumes.
Manchester United came from behind at halftime to defeat Brentford at Old Trafford for the second season in a succession, and the victory was critical for Erik ten Hag.
Manchester United rallied from behind to defeat Brentford at Old Trafford for the second year in a row in the Premier League, giving Erik ten Hag breathing room and breaking a five-game losing streak. United went behind under dubious circumstances. Ethan Pinnock headed home a corner kick in first-half stoppage time, as Matthijs de Ligt was taken off the pitch for treatment on an earlier injury.
Ten Hag and Ruud van Nistelrooy were both booked for contesting the decision, but it prompted a response from United, with goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund giving United their third league victory of the season. They came into this game with a five-game losing streak and Ten Hag under increasing pressure, but their second-half effort earned them the victory.
Hojlund’s Fernandes gesture
For one hour, Bruno Fernandes had another terrible afternoon. He has struggled to establish his rhythm this season and appeared to be a player who was aware that practically everything he tried was ineffective. He slapped a pass back to Andre Onana from the halfway line late in the first half, causing frustration to erupt from the spectators. Fernandes is frequently wasteful in possession, but that is his game; he makes high-risk passes because his success rate is typically worthwhile. So it proved just after the hour mark.
His exquisite back-heel to Rasmus Hojlund for the Dane’s goal was the type of touch that could have easily gone awry, being intercepted or carrying too much weight. Instead, it was perfect, and Hojlund’s subsequent finale was a thrill. During the festivities, Hojlund grabbed Fernandes and pointed at him while facing the audience. He is aware that his captain has had a difficult time recently, and his gesture was intended to remind everyone of his class.
Animated Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag is generally one to remain calm in his technical area, but the wrath over Brentford’s goal was more obvious in Ruud van Nistelrooy than Ten Hag. But the latter would have understood how important this game was. He needed a reaction when confronted with another setback and his sixth game without a win. That contentious finish to the first half fuelled everything, and when Hojlund completed the comeback, Ten Hag celebrated the goal with greater enthusiasm than normal.
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