Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag highlighted the performances of three individuals after watching his team come from a goal down to beat RC Lens on Saturday.
Having returned from a pre-season tour that included games in Norway, Scotland and the United States, it marked United’s first game back at Old Trafford since May. One final pre-season fixture will see the squad briefly hop over to Ireland to face Athletic Club in Dublin on Sunday.
The Lens game handed unofficial home debuts to Mason Mount and Andre Onana, while new striker Rasmus Hojlund was presented to the crowd before kick-off following confirmation of his big money transfer from Atalanta earlier that day.
Florian Sotoca had put Lens into the lead with a spectacular effort from the centre circle, but three goals in the space of ten second-half minutes from Marcus Rashford, Antony and Casemiro soon after the break saw United eventually cruise to victory.
Rashford and Antony earned particular praise from Ten Hag, as did Alejandro Garnacho.
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“I’m very pleased with Rashy, of course,” the Dutchman told MUTV. “It’s a typical Rashy goal, I will say. We came out of the back there from a defender and there was a great assist from Antony.
“I was very pleased with Antony’s performance, he’s improving and also Garna. I think that second goal is a picture, it’s a brilliant goal. The movement, the dribble from Garna, then inside the movement in the right moment, the timing, the run from Rashford, and then it opens up and then the great pass from Garna, the first touch and the finish.
“We have many players on the pitch who can decide games and it’s not only one player. We don’t even talk about Mason Mount or Bruno, who also can make the final pass or score a goal.”
After the Athletic Club friendly, United will return to Manchester before commencing their 2023/24 Premier League season at home against Wolves in the first Monday night game of the new campaign.
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