Erik ten Hag said Marcus Rashford helped Manchester United recover from a “rubbish” start as the England forward’s double inspired a 3-0 win against Leicester.
Rashford has been the key to United’s impressive form in Ten Hag’s first season and the England forward proved too hot for Leicester to handle at Old Trafford.
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“Leicester played brilliant in the first half but second we were rubbish. We were really inconsequential, undisciplined. It was only by David de Gea that we kept our clean-sheet,” Ten Hag said.
“We repaired some stuff and the second half was brilliant. It was the way I wanted to see our team playing.”
Rashford has scored 24 times in all competitions for United this season, the highest goal tally he has ever managed in a single campaign.
Remarkably, 16 of those goals have come in 17 appearances since he returned from the World Cup in December.
“He’s getting in the right position, but don’t forget our team because they are team goals,” Ten Hag said.
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After drawing 2-2 at Barcelona on Thursday, Ten Hag made five changes to freshen up his team ahead of their pivotal week.
David De Gea made a superb save to deny Harvey Barnes in the early stages after the Leicester winger surged onto Kelechi Iheanacho’s pass.
Only De Gea was keeping United afloat and the Spaniard plunged to his right to make a brilliant stop from Iheanacho’s stooping header.
Fittingly, De Gea finished with his 180th United clean-sheet, moving him level with Peter Schmeichel’s all time record for the club.
After Leicester’s barrage, they were hit with a Rashford sucker punch in the 25th minute.
Bruno Fernandes’s deft pass with the outside of his boot exposed Leicester’s creaky offside trap, and Rashford sprinted clear to fire a clinical finish into the far corner from 12 yards.
Rashford’s speed and movement made him unplayable at times and he doubled United’s lead in the 56th minute.
Accelerating onto Fred’s pass, Rashford guided a composed finish past Ward, with his celebrations briefly halted by an offside flag that was overturned by VAR.
Leicester were in disarray and Jadon Sancho put the result beyond doubt in the 61st minute when the substitute slotted home from Fernandes’s pass.
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SON FIRES SPURS TO CRUCIAL THREE POINTS
Son Heung-min produced the perfect response after being dropped as the South Korea forward came off the bench to seal Tottenham’s 2-0 win against West Ham on Sunday.
Son has struggled badly this season and his poor form convinced Tottenham’s absentee boss Antonio Conte to axe him for the Premier League clash.
Prior to this weekend, the 30-year-old had scored in only four matches this season.
But Son made his point to Conte as he came off the bench to net Tottenham’s second goal after Emerson Royal put the hosts ahead in the second half.
Tottenham’s win over their struggling London rivals lifted them one point above Newcastle into fourth place, although the Magpies have a game in hand.
Conte was watching on television back home in Italy after deciding he had returned too soon following his gallbladder surgery, with assistant coach Cristian Stellini taking instructions from his recuperating manager.
It was a much-needed victory for Tottenham, who were thrashed at Leicester last weekend, then lost 1-0 at AC Milan in the Champions league last 16 first leg.
Just 46 seconds had gone when West Ham went close through Jarrod Bowen, who hit a half-volley just wide.
Tottenham were angered when a VAR check ruled that Richarlison’s shot, which clearly struck Thilo Kehrer’s out-stretched hand, was not worthy of a penalty.
Tottenham struggled to find any rhythm as the half wore on and their first shot on target from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg drew sarcastic cheers from frustrated fans.
Richarlison has struggled to make an impact since his £60 million ($72 million) move to Tottenham from Everton last year, scoring just two goals.
The Brazilian’s lack of form was evident again when he took a poor angle from Harry Kane’s pass, losing his position and allowing Lukasz Fabianski to save.
Richarlison shot straight at Fabianski again early in the second half, but Tottenham finally made their territorial dominance count in the 56th minute.
Ben Davies’s pass split the West Ham defence and Emerson showed unexpected composure for a player with just one goal this season as the right-back drilled a confident finish past Fabianski from just inside the area.
Fraser Forster preserved Tottenham’s lead moments later with a fine save from Bowen’s powerful drive.
Son’s exile ended when he came on for Richarlison in the 67th minute and he was on the scoresheet within five minutes.
Kane’s superb pass took two West Ham defenders out of the game and Son’s touch was perfect as he controlled deftly before slotting past Fabianski from 12 yards.