Erik ten Hag celebrated Marcus Rashford’s winner against Man City like never before, he was buzzing
Erik ten Hag doesn’t tend to celebrate goals very often, but when he does, you know something really special has happened.
On Saturday afternoon, just four minutes after Bruno Fernandes controversially cancelled out Jack Grealish’s opener in the Manchester derby, United’s often-reserved manager reacted to Marcus Rashford’s winner by jumping up and down the Old Trafford touchline.
It was an unusual sight but boy, was it a moment to remember. “l don’t celebrate often but it was a special moment,” the Dutchman said in his post-match interview with BT Sport. “It was a great moment for our team to get a turnaround like this in a derby.”
As you can see in the footage below, he punched the air in joy after Rashford’s effort – a moment that got plenty of fans talking on social media. One commented on the clip, saying: “Erik ten Hag running down the touchline celebrating like a proper Manchester United fan. Tears in my eyes.”
That Erik ten Hag celebration is all of us 😭🙏🔴😍 #MUFC #GGMU pic.twitter.com/AbPHck0POg
— Donny Fernandes (@itsyourboydon) January 14, 2023
United are just one point behind rivals Manchester City in third place following the 2-1 victory.
Still, Ten Hag is not getting carried away just yet. “The fans may dream but we’re not,” he said after the full-time whistle on Saturday. “We have to keep our feet on the ground and then face that our game has a lot to improve.
“It can’t happen that after half-time we lose so much control of the game, for instance, and then getting down is unnecessary.
“When we do the right things, when we follow the right rules, when we step up at the back in earlier moments we can control such moments and do the same as the first half.
“But it’s also top football, the small details have a big impact and we have to keep working on that and keep investing in that.
“We improved, that’s obvious. Still a long way to go, a long path to go, a lot of aspects in our game we have to improve but we’re progressing, that’s quite obvious.”
“The spirit in the team is so huge, the belief is there.”
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag was overjoyed with his side’s performance as they came from behind to beat Man City 💪
🎙️ @TheDesKelly pic.twitter.com/SoeNHNbJnb
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 14, 2023
Ten Hag also commented on Bruno Fernandes’ much-talked about equaliser. In the 78th minute, the Portuguese midfielder converted past Ederson with ease.
But the goal was shrouded in controversy after many deemed Marcus Rashford to be interfering with play.
The England international did not touch the ball after clearly coming from an offside position, but some were convinced that he played a part by obstructing City’s defence before Fernandes fired home.
In his post-match interview, Ten Hag said of the moment: “I can see it from the other side as well. The rules, it’s a confusing moment for the backline of the opponent.
“But when you follow the rules, he didn’t touch the ball and was not interfering and it’s a goal because Bruno came from the back – but I can see it from the other side.”
