Anthony’s penalty meant Manchester United needed just two more goals to equal last season’s tally of three goals.So scoring against lowly opposition hasn’t taken the phoenix-from-the-flames another step towards rebuilding its standing under Erik ten Hag.
Marcus Rashford’s expertly executed double can be taken as evidence that he is back to his best after scoring at Southampton on Saturday. Alejandro Garnacho scored twice and that was enough for the three wingers.
“Helping each other, such as penalties,when Anthony has some confidence, Rashy gives it to him. Confidence is a big part, it’s not everything and Rashford is a big man, he’s got a lot of goals, he’s on United’s list of goalscorers, but every time you have to prove as good as your last game , the greatest If the footballers don’t score, the performance goes down, it doesn’t matter who it is,” said Ten Hag.
Twenty-seven years ago, this was a Premier League match that ended 7-0 to United, giving Sir Alex Ferguson’s vintage campaign a 9-0 aggregate for the 1997-8 season.This evening their rivals Liverpool take on Milan at the San Siro.Ten Hag’s men progressed in England’s second-tier cup, finishing seventh in League One, sending Barnsley off the wrong end. Anthony has zipped to the right, intending to heed the manager’s insistence to fight to regain his place.Manuel Ugarte on his debut failed to pick out a team-mate with Uruguay needs to settle through football.
United then followed through with a sweet turn that created Rashford’s opener.Casemiro crosses the ball to Christian Eriksen who sends it back to Ganache.A cross came in which ran to the toes of the England striker.As Barnsley pulled back, Rashford danced forward and rifled Gabriel Slonina into the goal.
Satisfaction for the Ten Hag is exemplary from his side, Casemiro,Diogo Dalot, Eriksen, Garnacho and Rashford moved into the pocket to receive the ball around and Ugarte did his best in a free-kick-happy rush after two silly mistakes.Rashford played the ball to Anthony in the area as Slonina got in front, but the keeper lifted him.The Brazilian changed with a curl.
Four minutes into the second half and a flurry. Eriksson and his sliding ball from Rashford’s center circle went to Garnacho’s acreage and haring towards the area.Slonina only half came out to meet him, so the Argentine headed home.It almost became four-nil when Rashford zipped home a 30-yard free-kick, with Slonina needing to dive to his right for Barnsley.A damage limitation exercise was lost to an opponent who switched to ducking the ropes.
After Anthony appealed for a handball, Rashford got to Ganacho with an immediate left-footed shot.
Finally, Eriksen, first from close range, to ensure Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace is in particularly good spirits.Then it slid out.Ten Hag said: “We are on a journey and we will see where we are in May because we have to be good, do your best and improve the team all the time.”
