Erik ten Hag stated that Rasmus Højlund’s recent impressive performance is only the beginning, as the striker scored both goals in Manchester United’s 2-1 victory against Luton.
United closed the gap to fourth-placed Aston Villa by five points and are now three points behind Tottenham, who are in fifth place. This was made possible by Højlund’s early goals. No one has ever scored in six consecutive top-flight games at such a young age, which is a remarkable feat. This is quite a turnaround for the £72m signing, who had a slow start and didn’t score in the Premier League until Boxing Day. Ten Hag commended his resilience and believes there will be more impressive performances from the Danish player.
“We brought him onto the team based on his character,” stated Ten Hag about the 21-year-old. “I was aware of its strength. He excels under pressure, which is crucial for a Manchester United striker. He remains composed and confident, and I believe he will continue to score even more goals.”
“He required assistance, yet he remained composed. He faced misfortune initially. However, he persevered as he is a determined individual. While there may be room for improvement in various aspects, his ability to score is evident.”
Ten Hag explained that Casemiro and Harry Maguire were taken out of the game at halftime due to their existing yellow cards. This decision was made after Luton’s Carlton Morris scored, making the first half intense. According to Ten Hag, the game was becoming too stressful for the referee and there was a chance of both players receiving another booking. As a precaution, they were replaced with suitable substitutes.
Ten Hag stated that Casemiro was lucky to have avoided a second warning for his foul on Ross Barkley. However, he also asserted that it would not have been fair and seemed to suggest that the referees were singling out his midfielder.
“He consistently receives bookings, even without making physical contact with opponents,” he remarked. “It’s often right at the start of the game. I find it absurd and unjust, especially that first booking. The second one could have been avoided, which is why I decided to substitute him. Every time he makes contact with an opponent, he gets a yellow card.”
The manager of Luton, Rob Edwards, had a different perspective. He stated, “The fact that he was substituted at half-time probably suggests that he was lucky.” He continued, “They’re claiming the first incident was not a foul, but just because the first one wasn’t doesn’t mean the second one wasn’t. Perhaps they were fortunate to escape punishment in that situation.”
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Luton is still one point ahead of the zone where teams are at risk of being relegated. Edwards expressed his belief that the team played well and he is proud of their performance, despite facing challenges at the start.
Source: theguardian.com
