Erik ten Hag sends warning to Man Utd duo despite starring against Liverpool

Erik ten Hag has warned Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho that defending from the front foot must be a ‘way of life’ following Manchester United’s impressive victory over Liverpool.

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After two meek showings in their opening matches of the campaign, Erik ten Hag’s side raised the intensity levels against their arch-rivals to seal a 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Monday.

Sancho opened the scoring after 16 minutes with Rashford doubling the lead early in the second half.

In addition to composed finishes from both men, the England internationals worked to press Jurgen Klopp’s side from the opening whistle with ten Hag’s work on the training pitch with the group paying off.

Speaking after Monday’s win, the former Ajax boss urged Rashford and Sancho to enjoy the moment after hailing their performances against Jurgen Klopp’s side.

But with the former Ajax boss desperate to make United a more cohesive unit,  he urged the pair to make sure last night’s ‘mindset’ every week.

‘In their mindset they may think I cannot do all the defending work and threat in offence but today you can see they can do it, it has to be a way of life and the will get stronger,’ ten Hag said.

‘When we press this way it is difficult for opponents to get out and play their football. When you win the ball, you can get in behind, dribble behind, make combinations and it makes football fun for them. That is what I saw and the get the rewards.’

He continued: ‘It starts with the mindset, they understand this is that attitude they have to bring, it starts in the preparation.

‘We have to enjoy in the next 24 hours but then focus on the next game. Every game is a battle, there are no easy wins in the Premier League, that is what this team needs to understand.

‘Therefore we need leadership and when we bring that we have good footballers.’

United will hope to carry Monday’s performance into their clash against Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon.

Ten Hag’s side are on the road again midweek after that against Leicester City before hosting Arsenal, who have three wins from three, on 4 September.

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