The start of many — Ten Hag hails struggling striker after incredible goal in Southampton win

Manchester United stars and Erik Ten Hag after the defeat to Brighton | Imago

The start of many — Ten Hag hails struggling striker after incredible goal in Southampton win

Faruq Ibrahim 20:16 - 14.09.2024

Manchester United's statement win against Southampton signals a turnaround in form for some of their key players.

Manchester United's boss Erik ten Hag has seen his faith in Marcus Rashford pay off after the England international scored a beautiful curler in the Red Devil's triumph over the Premier League's basement side, Southampton. 

The 26-year-old's goal is the second of three goals in the 3-0 triumph over the newly promoted side. He also looked sharper and was more involved, compared to the first three matches of the season, in which he earned criticism. 

What Ten Hag said 

There have been calls for Ten Hag to relegate Rashford to the bench, but the former Ultrech boss kept his faith in the Carrington graduate. 

Speaking after the match, Ten Hag expressed his delight over the goal and stressed how important it could be in the context of his season. 

He believes Rashford only needed to break the duck, and now that he has, he expects the goals to flow in. 

Marcus Rashford scored against Southampton | IMAGO
Marcus Rashford scored against Southampton | IMAGO

"It's very important,” Ten Hag said, per the BBC. “We spoke before the game and it is so huge for him, for every striker, when the season starts, you want to be on the scoring list. Now he has his first, I'm sure more will come.

"We had the chances to kill the game off, we had the chances, I don't know how many. We had several to go to 3 or 4-0."