Erik ten Hag's reaction echoed by Man Utd chiefs as Brentford win provides relief

Relief was palpable connected the look of Erik 10 Hag, and his bosses successful the directors' box, arsenic Manchester United came from down to bushed Brentford astatine Old Trafford

The alleviation astir Old Trafford astatine the last whistle was palpable.

Manchester United brag Erik 10 Hag applauded the Stretford End arsenic helium strode disconnected the pitch, giving fans determination a thumbs-up and a defiant fist pump, mouthing “thank you” for their loyal support.

In the directors' box, United CEO Omar Berrada matched Ten Hag's clenched fist reaction, portion manager of shot Dan Ashworth puffed retired his cheeks to underline the value of the win.

United had waited 35 days for a Premier League victory, and portion it lone nudged them up 3 places to 11th, the value of the triumph and its imaginable interaction cannot beryllium overstated.

For Ten Hag it was vindication, aft United's worst-ever commencement to a Premier League campaign, that his players are susceptible of producing vibrant, attacking performances that yet output victory.

When United tin play similar this, with a swagger and benignant befitting the celebrated badge connected the shirt, it makes it puzzling wherefore they person served up specified turgid dross successful the opening signifier of the season.

United's beforehand 3 of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Ramus Hojlund dazzled, the second 2 scoring and the erstwhile providing an assistance and a show underpinned by a formidable enactment ethic.

At the back, a bloodied Matthijs de Ligt and the ever reliable Jonny Evans produced a antiaircraft masterclass, the triumph providing United and Ten Hag with a level to physique connected for the remainder of the season.

The situation now, starting with Thursday's brushwood distant to ex-United brag Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce successful Istanbul, is to guarantee this triumph is not different mendacious dawn but the commencement of their revival.

For Hojlund, a archetypal league extremity of the play – a coolly executed spot implicit Brentford keeper Mark Flekken – vindicated the hard enactment helium enactment successful aft a hamstring wounded successful pre-season ruled him retired for 2 months.

“It was very, precise bully to get my archetypal extremity successful the Premier League,” said Hojlund. “Obviously, the wounded was annoying and it was an annoying clip to get it, but I consciousness large present and acceptable to determination on.

“I tried to absorption connected the information that I'm precise privileged to beryllium a nonrecreational footballer. Obviously, there's downsides and upsides and we get critics, but besides sometimes we are superstars.

“All successful all, I'm surviving the imagination each day. I'm playing for Manchester United, and having the fig 9 connected the backmost for Manchester United, truthful it's a bully life.

“I conscionable tried to absorption connected that part, and besides I could absorption connected everything other instead. Trying to beryllium adjacent fitter for erstwhile I travel back, doing my betterment adjacent better. I deliberation I'm successful a large spot close now.

“I effort to bash amended each day. I deliberation that's the mindset I'm ever trying to do. I don't deliberation excessively overmuch astir this and that. I'm lone trying to absorption connected going connected the grooming transportation each time and absorption connected becoming better.

"I cognize I've been successful those moments a batch of times, adjacent successful the younker squad oregon whatever. So I cognize what to bash successful these benignant of moments. But obviously, it's a large commencement and I privation to support going.

“Every clip you triumph and the forwards people goals, it gives a batch of assurance to the team. But successful the end, it's astir winning and I deliberation that's what we request to absorption on.”

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