Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was full of praise for his players after a fantastic comeback win against Barcelona.
The Dutchman changed the game with his second half substitutions, helping United overturn a 1-0 deficit at half-time into a 2-1 win.
This was a famous victory, a real statement from the team and from Ten Hag. The club needed this win, a first victory against Barcelona since 2008.
Fred and Antony scored United’s goals, with the winger a half-time substitute.
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Ten Hag praises Antony and Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho was thrown on midway through the second half too, and the youngster helped to further energise the team.
Along with Antony the duo with the bleached blonde hair led the press late in the game to continually disrupt Barcelona’s attempts to build from the back.
Ten Hag praised both players’ ability and attitude in an interview with BT Sport after the full time whistle.
The manager said: “One part of our game plan is that we can bring Antony and Garnacho and open the wide areas you can get speed and running in behind and dribbles.
“They are both so brave, they don’t fear anyone, they just take players on and I think that gives a boost to the whole team.”
Garnacho is only 18 and this time last year he was playing for Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup, while Antony was at Ajax with Ten Hag.
Both players look set to have huge futures at the club, and Ten Hag is clearly glad to have both.
The manager also praised the personalities he has throughout the team, picking out his two centre-backs as examples.
He said: “I think we have some great personalities in the team like Rafa [Varane] and [Lisandro] Martinez, they don’t fear anyone.
“We have some players here with great personalities and if and when you get set-backs they move on. They carry on, they are resilient, they want to get a result.”
United have gone a goal down in games against Manchester City and Barcelona at Old Trafford and gone onto win, a real sign of resilience and mental strength, against top tier opposition.
There is plenty left to achieve this season, but this is a moment worth savouring.
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