Erik ten Hag described Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Barcelona on Thursday night as the biggest of his tenure and said that if his team can beat the five-times European champions they can beat any side.
On a rousing evening at Old Trafford, Ten Hag’s team equalised via Fred two minutes into the second half before Antony’s winner knocked Barça out of the Europa League playoff, Robert Lewandowski’s penalty having opened the scoring.
A delighted Ten Hag said: “When you can beat Barcelona, one of the best teams at this moment in Europe then your belief can be really strong then you are able to beat anyone. When you [as Barça] are eight points ahead of Real Madrid in La Liga and you beat Real Madrid in the Super Cup 1-3 and we have seen Real Madrid playing against Liverpool this week [winning 5-2] and you beat a really good opponent, we have the potential to beat all good teams.”
Ten Hag was clear he rated the win as his biggest. “Oh yes, I think so, yes. We’ve had some good wins, Liverpool and Arsenal at home, really good wins but I think this over two legs, one tie, Barcelona: it’s a big win,” he said. “We have great personalities, starting with David [De Gea], Raphaël Varane, Lisandro Martínez, Casemiro, Bruno [Fernandes], winning types. Everyone has such a strong belief in this team and fight.”
Ten Hag introduced Antony at half-time, in what proved a successful substitution. “That was one of the parts, of course, our gameplan,” he said. “We know if we can bring Antony, we can bring [Alejandro] Garnacho [who came on later], you get speed and you get running behind. You get dribbles and you get belief, and they are so brave – both – they don’t care, they don’t fear anyone, especially when you go towards the Stretford End [as in the second half], they take players on and run in behind, and I think that gives a push to the whole team.”
The draw for the last 16 is on Friday. Ten Hag offered a view that United’s Carabao Cup final versus Newcastle is more important.
“It doesn’t matter for me,” he said. “I’m focused on Newcastle now. Doesn’t matter who will come, we have to beat them all, we know that. We’ll respect every opponent but if we are well prepared and have strong belief we can do it.”
