Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has given his reaction to Manchester United’s narrow win over Copenhagen.
When the referee awarded a 95th minute penalty to Copenhagen, Erik ten Hag just shook his head on the sideline.
He had the look of a manager who just could not believe his bad luck, and was also fuming at his players for failing to score an important second goal.
Fortunately, a stunning penalty save from Andre Onana meant all these negative thoughts could be erased.
READ: Six things we learned as Man Utd beat Copenhagen 1-0
Ten Hag picks out key players
Andre Onana enjoyed his finest moment in a Manchester United shirt so far when he secured his first Champions League win and clean sheet for the club.
His last minute penalty save sealed a 1-0 victory, which had come courtesy of a Harry Maguire headed goal.
Erik ten Hag told TNT Sports: “It is incredible and a great night. Especially in the dying second when you concede a penalty, but a brilliant save from Andre Onana.
“Those players, Harry Maguire played a good game and Andre Onana as well. He made an important save just after half-time.”
But they were not the only players who grabbed Ten Hag’s attention, with special praise reserved also for substitute Christian Eriksen, who provided the assist for the winner.
Ten Hag said: “Christian is always positive. He brings football and we did not have the football in the first-half – Copenhagen are well organised and you have to break them. Christian Eriksen makes the right passes.”
Eriksen making a case to start
Ten Hag was quizzed ahead of the game by the Danish press whether Eriksen was good enough to start games, and insisted he was, simply stating that there was lots of competition in midfield.
He has not started a game since the loss to Bayern Munich, instead preferred as an impact substitute.
Eriksen has come off the bench at half-time in three of the last four games and played 30 minutes in the other. And he has made a real impact.
Whether this weekend’s game against City is the right match to start Eriksen is questionable, Ten Hag may prefer a more defensive approach.
But you can be sure he will see some action, and after the City game, Eriksen should find himself back in the starting line-up.
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