Manchester United ace Diogo Dalot has revealed Erik ten Hag gave his players two instructions at half-time against Brentford on Saturday as the Red Devils came from behind to defeat the Bees 2-1 in the Premier League. Mathias Jensen nudged the visitors ahead during the first half at Old Trafford, before United substitute Scott McTominay secured a pivotal win for his side in the dying seconds after bagging a quickfire brace in stoppage time.
“We kept calm and we listened to what the manager said, trying to change a few things to find more spaces on the full-backs and trying to switch the game,” Dalot explained to The National UK. “They (Brentford) were really tired at the end and that shows we kept them running in their own half. And when it’s like that, it’s really difficult to get to the end of a game without being tired.
“We kept fighting and then when Scott came in with the energy and mentality he has, it shows we are a proper team and I am really happy for him. When you win a game like this you get to the dressing room excited and you can look at everybody you could see that they gave everything.”
United climbed to 10th in the table after clinching their fourth Premier League win of the campaign but were still six points adrift of fourth-place Liverpool by the end of Saturday. And Ten Hag’s side will need to put together a sustained run of results if they want to be in with a chance of breaking into the top four before the end of the season.
“It shows that we are here to fight, to suffer together,” Dalot added. “I think the fans were behind us every step today and I think this can be a turning point and we want to look at this as a turning point. We know it will be difficult but that’s what it’s like being a Manchester United player and I think today was good proof that we can fight to the end.”
Meanwhile, United boss Ten Hag has echoed Dalot’s comments that the victory must be a turning point for the 13-time Premier League champions.
“This must be the turning point,” the Dutchman said. “This reflects our season so far from the start of a game. It has to be that you believe and you see the fans believe – they are sticking together. They are behind us and they kept us going.
“But then we have a plan and that is the big compliment for the team. They kept the plan. They kept switching. And from there on in the right moment, you bring the ball in the box. And of course we had to make and bring more players in the box. And I think that’s what we did the last 30 minutes and then you get rewarded in the end.”
