Premier League: United 3 Aston Villa 2Old Trafford, 26 December 2023
The Villans headed into the interval on Boxing Day cruising with a two-goal advantage, but words in the dressing room from the Dutchman inspired an almighty revival. A Garnacho brace put us on level terms, before Rasmus Hojlund completed the comeback with his first Premier League goal.
Ten Hag said: “We said keep going and believing in ourselves, and I said that is what I demand from a team. I said it before the game, I said it during half-time. Keep believing and we will win this game.”
Premier League: United 3 West Ham United 0Old Trafford, 4 February 2024
Another strong home showing saw Ten Hag’s men brush the Hammers aside. But it was the manager’s faith in youth that was the key takeaway from this game, captured neatly in Hojlund, Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo’s iconic celebration sat on top of the Old Trafford advertising hoardings, one which was recreated for our 2024/25 kit launch.
The boss said: “They [Garnacho, Hojlund and Mainoo] need, of course, games. They need experience, and the only way you can get this is to play in that first team and to get the opposition, and then adapt.”