Erik ten Hag is on the verge of guiding his side to a cup final in his first season at Manchester United following the comfortable 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup.
The Reds still need to play the return leg next week but the three-goal cushion should be enough to safely secure their passage to Wembley in six days.
United were on their way early on, with Marcus Rashford’s dazzling solo goal giving them the lead after six minutes. Not long after, Forest were starting to gain momentum in the game.
That 20-minute spell included an equaliser but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was disallowed for offside. Speaking after the game, Ten Hag highlighted that moment as one area United could still improve in.
🗣 "If you want to be top, such moments can't happen."
Erik ten Hag warns his Man United team that there are still areas to improve pic.twitter.com/yA4c9CWtXI
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 25, 2023
“I’m happy, happy with the performance,” Ten Hag told Football Daily, as seen above. “I think, over 90 minutes, we controlled the game. There was one moment in the game that could have changed the game.
“That is what we have to be aware of, there we have to improve. But I think all over, it was a good performance from our team. First leg is done but still, one leg to go.”
When further pressed on the decision that spared United’s blushes in the first half, Ten Hag admitted that United were not prepared to deal with a tactical change made by Forest.
“Yes, they changed the system and we didn’t read,” he said. “We didn’t anticipate that. It can’t happen but I have to say, also, they still did the same: come over counter-attacks.
“We knew that before and it can’t happen. That is still a moment where we have to learn, where we have to improve as a team if we want to be top, such moments can’t happen.”
