If Erik ten Hag had drawn up a list of things he wanted to see from Manchester United’s trip to Southampton, you’d imagine that he departed St Mary’s having ticked many off them off.
A clean sheet for Andre Onana. A strong display from Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez, the understanding growing between the two former Ajax men.
A solid debut off the bench for Manuel Ugarte, a comfortable afternoon for the seldom-seen Christian Eriksen, some gorgeous Joshua Zirkzee touches, and a much-needed, confidence-boosting strike from Manchester United’s much-maligned number ten Marcus Rashford.
Off the back of a poor, eight goal campaign – and having not scored in his previous four across 2024/25 – the relief was palpable as Rashford’s subtle, curling shot span into the far corner of Aaron Ramsdale’s net just before the interval.
It was a goal that all-but killed off the game as a contest, combined with De Ligt’s opener and Onana’s vital penalty save.
- READ MORE: Who is Marcus Rashford? Inside the life of Man Utd’s book-writing, government-tackling ace
Erik ten Hag delighted by Manchester United win
“You have to win every game. We did today, and sometimes you have to find a way to win,” Ten Hag tells TNT Sports (14th September, 2.45pm). “The first minutes, we had some problems.
“After Andre stopped the penalty and the goal from Matthijs de Ligt, I think the game was all ours.”
Rashford has been going the extra mile off the pitch in an attempt to escape his recent slump. Left out of the England squad again, he spent the international break training with coach Ryan Hopper, who could not speak any higher of the Carrington graduates attitude or mentality.
And there was a freedom, a returning swagger about the way Rashford ran at a quaking Southampton backline during the second 45 on the banks of the Solent.
A goal is usually the best medicine for a forward short on confidence. And, touch by touch, minute by minute, Rashford’s self-belief appears to be building again.
“Very important,” Ten Hag adds in response to Rashford’s first goal of the campaign. “We spoke before the game. Its so huge for him, for every striker. You want to be on that scoring list.
“Now, he has his first and I am sure he will get more.”
Marcus Rashford and Matthijs de Ligt impress at St Mary’s
Another player who has had to dig his way out of a veritable avalanche of criticism is the aforementioned De Ligt.
Taken to the task in his native Netherlands after a couple of difficult moments on UEFA Nations League duty, the £38 million centre-back provided a timely reminder as to why Ten Hag once tipped him to become the world’s finest centre-half, even against limited Southampton opposition.
His former Ajax boss, meanwhile, confirms that Man United signed De Ligt not only for his defensive talents but also his threat in the opposition box.
United only scored nine set-piece goals in 2023/24. The 15th lowest tally of any team.
They scored two within six minutes at St Mary’s, however, with the impact De Ligt and set-piece coach Andreas Georgson clear to see.
“We know we have signed,” Ten Hag says of De Ligt. “A very good player with lots of attributes. One is that he is good on set plays. A very good cross from Bruno, so well done.
“(We tried to) kill the game off and I think we had the chances. I don’t know how many but we had several chances to go three or 4-0.”
United did, at least, end up with three. Alejandro Garnacho put the finishing touches on a much-improved display late on, United celebrating their first victory by this margin since beating West Ham in February.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
