Erik ten Hag has assessed Facundo Pellistri’s senior debut for Manchester United.
The Uruguay international was signed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020 but made his first appearance for the first team this evening.
The 21-year-old gave Ten Hag a lot to consider too, as he registered an assist after coming on in the 84th minute of the match – showing an instant impact.
Given Ten Hag’s philosophy, now could be the perfect time for Pellistri to prove himself in the senior setup. The manager knows how to integrate young players into the mix and boost their development, so much so, that he has taken charge of the club’s reserves team to track the progression of academy players.
As well as that, the Reds remain in every competition, meaning fixtures come thick and fast throughout the season. Young players such as Pellistri, Kobbie Mainoo and Zidane Iqbal will likely be utilised more to help take the weight off of senior players at the end of games.
Ten Hag on Pellistri
Post-match, the boss said (via Mark Critchley): “I see a future in him. You see he’s progressing. Against Everton [behind closed doors in training] I was happy with his performance, I was happy with him in the World Cup. Well done, better, keep going.”
