There has not been too many occasions this season when Manchester United supporters could toast what could reasonably be described as something of a ‘perfect night’.
But as the Red Devils won their first Premier League game in eight, albeit against bottom of the table Sheffield United, as Bruno Fernandes continued his outstanding recent form, as Rasmus Hojlund ended his drought, as Ethan Wheatley made his first-team debut, as Liverpool’s title hopes suffered a potentially fatal blow and top-six rivals Newcastle slipped up at home…
Yeah, Wednesday evening went about as well as any Manchester United supporter could hope for.
Ten Hag had even more good news at full-time too.
Mason Mount‘s entire United career can probably be summed up by the events of the last few weeks. Finally opening his account for the club against Brentford and then succumbing to yet another injury, keeping him out against Coventry and that 4-2 win over The Blades.
Ten Hag, however, believes that the England international will be fit to make a relatively rare appearance in United red when another club in the relegation zone arrive at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Manchester United handed Mason Mount boost
“Mason Mount, he will return, I think,” the former Ajax boss told BBC’s Match of the Day ahead of Burnley’s trip to Old Trafford in a few days’ time.
Fellow midfielder Casemiro looks set to line up at centre-half for the third straight game, however, Ten Hag countering the positivity surrounding Mount’s imminent return by insisting that none of Man United’s injured centre-halves are expected to be available against Vincent Kompany’s team.
“No, not yet. We have to be patient for it,” Ten Hag adds, Willy Kambwala having joined Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane on the sidelines. “For coming back for the game against Burnley, I don’t expect (them to be back).”
Overtaking Newcastle into sixth – Eddie Howe’s side were dominated and out-played by Oliver Glasner’s Ebere Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta-inspired Crystal Palace at St James’ Park – Man United can move three points closer to securing a top-six spot with a second successive win this weekend.
Erik ten Hag’s side overtake Newcastle into sixth
“It was a good game for the crowd. Many positives today,” adds a pleased Ten Hag, happy to have seen off a Sheffield United side who – while largely dreadful this term – have taken a point off Chelsea and made Liverpool work hard for their win at Anfield.
“The resilience to fight back after, two times, we were losing. Straightforward. (There are) also negatives. The two goals annoy me. Real giveaways. It can’t happen. Unacceptable. Losing focus and the second goal was about indiscipline. We have to learn from this and improve on that factor.
“Good goals, our goals were very good as well, from set-plays and also open play. We created many more chances and I’m happy with the win and we move on.”
“Sheffield United also collected points lately, against good teams like Chelsea, for instance. And there are no easy games. We were losing but we are resilient. You see it again, the team spirit in the dressing room. We can deal with setbacks and just increase the tempo, make it difficult for our opponents, create more chances and keep calm.
“Have you seen some panic? No, not at all. The team was very composed and very stable. We played very well, kept making connections and looking for switches, creating chances throughout the game.”