Erik ten Hag breathes again.
Manchester United’s manager has spent most of the last two weeks facing a constant swirl of speculation over his future and even though he remained in charge for the visit of Brentford, a defeat would have been hard to survive.
The Dutchman would have been fearing the worst after Ethan Pinnock’s controversial opener in first-half injury time but a spirited recovery after the break — capped by goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund — bought him much needed respite.
We analyse the main talking points from Old Trafford.
Is Ten Hag safe now?
Inside Old Trafford, those two minutes at the end of the first half felt like the type of moment that seals a manager’s fate.
Your towering centre-back, Matthijs de Ligt — the one you personally championed the signing of — off the pitch receiving treatment, as helpless as you are to prevent the opposition’s towering centre-half from thumping in a header at a set-piece.
Ten Hag was furious, understandably so. It felt like the end. The chances of a second-half fightback appeared remote.
Yet against the odds, that was exactly what United delivered. Not only did they turn this game on its head but once in front, they managed the final stages relatively well — something which has not often been said of this side in the past.
And for all the criticism of Ten Hag and his players, this was yet more evidence — as in the FA Cup final, or in Porto a few weeks ago — that this team does not down tools.
Whether Ten Hag is the right manager to lead the club forward should not rest on one result. But results are Ten Hag’s way out of the mess that United’s start to the season has been. This comeback will ease the scrutiny on him and has surely kept him safe, for now at least.
Mark Critchley
Why were United angry with De Ligt’s head injury?
Ten Hag has spent the majority of 2024 lamenting defensive injuries but few have had as immediate dire consequences as the one suffered by De Ligt against Brentford.
The trouble began in the 11th minute when De Ligt collided with Kevin Schade’s knee, gashing the top of his head. He spent four minutes getting treatment on the sidelines before returning to the field.
De Ligt passed concussion protocols and had his wound patched up, but had to leave the pitch twice more in the first half when referee Sam Barrott noticed blood still pouring out of the cut. The third time De Ligt left the field came deep into first-half stoppage time with Ten Hag’s men defending a corner.
With De Ligt reluctantly watching from the sidelines, Ethan Pinnock sprinted past his marker Diogo Dalot to head in Mikkel Damsgaard’s set-piece at the near post.
The concession, and the the fact that De Ligt was unable to help prevent it, sent the player, Ten Hag, and his assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy into a rage on the touchline.
It certainly posed several pointed questions. Why didn’t United’s medical team bandage De Ligt’s head on the first attempt? Why was the corner allowed to go ahead with De Ligt off the field off play? And why did Barrott send the Dutchman off to receive further treatment?
The answer to the third question, at least, is stated clearly in the IFAB rulebook:
“The referee… ensures that any player bleeding leaves the field of play. The player may only re-enter on receiving a signal from the referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped and there is no blood on the equipment.”
De Ligt returned for the second half after receiving further treatment and ultimately the controversy was forgotten amid United’s second-half recovery.
Carl Anka
Garnacho sparks end of goal drought
There was a moment towards the end of the first half where Rasmus Hojlund trod on Nathan Collins’ foot, sending the Brentford defender to the turf in agony.
Hojlund, ever the sport, asked for play to be stopped so Collins could get some treatment, only to spring into life when play continued and the ball was played into his feet and he fired a shot just wide.
When the ball went out of play, he then went back to asking for help for Collins. It was all a bit too nice from the striker, and his side spent much of the first half matching his politeness in front of Mark Flekken’s goal instead of forcing the issue.
United managed 10 shots in the first half, but when half-time came, United had a cumulative xG of 0.28 compared to Brentford’s 0.83 (for those who don’t speak stats, that is not good).
Which is why Garnacho’s goal – set up superbly with a crossfield pass from Marcus Rashford – brought things into sharp relief. United have often been a confidence side in 2024 and the punchy equaliser ennobled Ten Hag’s side to force the issue and disrupt Brentford’s build-up patterns.
Hojlund eventually got his goal in the 62nd minute, capping off a clever move that saw United pressure Brentford deep in their own half before Lisandro Martinez won the ball and recycled possession. A clever line-breaking pass from Christian Eriksen left Brentford defenders flat-footed before a flick-on from Bruno Fernandes freed the Denmark international in the penalty box and he dinked over Flekken.
United have not been prolific goalscorers under Ten Hag, but in Garnacho, they have a winger willing to “have a go” and test goalkeepers whenever possible. The Argentine finished proceedings having five shots on target, one shot off it, and two further shots that were blocked.
His tenacious ball-carrying provides an outlet for his side whenever they are on the back foot, and his link-up play with Rashford and Hojlund has potential. United took time to find their shooting boots on Saturday. Garnacho kept testing Flekken until his teammates found them.
Carl Anka
What as the fans’ reaction to Sir Alex Ferguson’s ‘exit’?
There was no Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, as you might expect after The Athletic revealed this week that United have brought his role as a club ambassador to an end as part of INEOS’s scything cuts, effective from the end of the season.
Instead, the Scot took in his old club Aberdeen’s trip to Celtic Park. But his presence could still be felt on Sir Matt Busby Way, with a group of supporters in the Stretford End chanting “Every Single One of Us…” solidly and for several minutes during the first half.
It was a reminder, were it needed, that although Ferguson will no longer be contractually connected to this club for the first time in almost 40 years, his legacy is indelible, and United’s present will always be measured against the standards he set in the past.
Mark Critchley
What next for Manchester United?
Thursday, October 24: Fenerbahce (A), Europa League, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
Recommended reading
- Donny van de Beek exclusive: Manchester United struggles, Girona hopes, and Erik ten Hag
- INEOS ending Sir Alex Ferguson’s ambassadorial role saves Man Utd money but also trims the club’s soul
- Premier League managers’ favourite words and phrases and why they use them
- Analysing Europe’s top four leagues: How does football in England, Italy, Spain and Germany compare?
(Top photo: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
