Erik ten Hag was impressed with Manchester United’s dominant performance against Wigan Athletic this evening, especially as the win prevented any prospect of a replay match.
The Red Devils progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup comfortably after cruising past their League One opponents at the DW Stadium. The scoreline certainly could’ve been higher though, and there’s no doubt that the manager will have a number of players doing extra shooting drills over the coming days.
Still, a win’s a win, and the competition provides United with a form of silverware to really put up a fight for after such a tumultuous start to the term. They face lower-league opposition away from home in the next stage too, having been drawn to either Newport County (League Two) or Eastleigh (National League), depending on the outcome of their replay.
Ten Hag’s immediate reaction
Speaking to ITV post-match, the manager revealed what he told his players immediately after they gathered in the dressing room.
“The FA Cup is all about winning. It is knockout. If you have a replay, you need two games but you want to finish the job and that is exactly what I used [said] in the dressing room – ‘job done’,” Ten Hag declared.
"Sometimes we have to deal with setbacks, it's a journey.."
Erik ten Hag spoke to @KatieShanahan3 following Man Utd's win over Wigan pic.twitter.com/FMaW7wMsrp
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 8, 2024
Footage courtesy of ITV.
Well, yes, a win is indeed a win, but there wasn’t much there to raise the pulse-rate or suggest that jolly old corner finally has been turned. Young ‘uns the best: Garnacho for his determination, and Mainoo good all round – intelligent and alert, especially to danger.