Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag looks set to lead the Red Devils into the League Cup final following a first-leg victory over Nottingham Forest and has ticked off one of his early targets at the club in the process.
United cruised to a dominant 3-0 win at the City Ground on Thursday evening - goals coming from the in-form Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes. Allowing for a dramatic collapse at Old Trafford in next week’s second-leg, the Red Devils are now just 90 minutes from claiming their first piece of silverware since 2017.
Whilst the victory in the East-Midlands was relatively straight-forward, the nature of the performance was praised by Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez. The World Cup winner hailed his teammates for the way they controlled proceedings against Forest.
Speaking after the full-time whistle, he said: “We really needed this result. I think we showed many good things but we also have a lot to improve.
“But it is a good result, I think we controlled the game today. But we have to keep going and also keep calm.”
Since arriving at Old Trafford last summer, Ten Hag has regularly reiterated his desire for the Red Devils to have the ability to control games - whether that be in a domestic competition or in Europe.
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Asked how he would like to set his side up during his introductory press conference, the Dutchman replied: "Maybe you have seen Ajax? And I like that. But it is always players who dictate the way of play.
“I have the ideal, I will line up my best team, and I will line up my players like that to get the best out of them. That they can go to the maximum, that they feel comfortable in the role and in the end it's about getting the success together."
He repeated that target in October as he prepared his side for a Europa League showdown with Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia. Ten Hag said: “Not only European games. In all the games, we want to dominate, to dictate and at least control the game. So that is for every game, that is our approach and that will not change.”
Whether Man Utd’s new-found control is enough to see them claim silverware this season remains to be seen but the Red Devils appear to be in line for a positive first season under Ten Hag’s stewardship regardless. They now sit just 19 points behind last season’s total haul when they finished sixth under Ralf Rangnick.
United are also still involved in both the Carabao and FA Cups, whilst they remain in European competition. A tough task awaits them in the Europa League though with a playoff against LaLiga leaders Barcelona set to come next month.
