Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag enjoyed the “perfect night” after his team defeated third-division Barnsley 7-0 in the English League Cup on Tuesday.
This was United’s largest win during Ten Hag’s more than two years in charge.
Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Christian Eriksen each scored two goals in the third-round match at Old Trafford, with Antony also contributing a goal.
“Not for me, but for the team, this is the perfect night. I think we could do everything that we planned to do. We won, (we are in) next round, scored some great goals, entertained the fans, and we worked on our game model, so we are happy,” Ten Hag said.
This victory surpassed United’s previous biggest win under Ten Hag, which was 4-1 against Real Betis and Chelsea in his first season. It was the largest win since a 9-0 victory over Southampton when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the manager in 2021.
For Ten Hag, it was encouraging to see Rashford scoring again after a difficult season last year, where he only got nine goals.
Rashford’s two goals came after he ended a 12-game scoring drought with a goal against Southampton over the weekend.
“Football is football. Sometimes you have ups and sometimes downs, but we have to use these games to get momentum and consistency,” Rashford said.
Garnacho also scored in that 3-0 win in the Premier League and matched Rashford by scoring three goals in his last two games. Eriksen scored two times in the later part of the match.
Rashford put United ahead after cutting inside Marc Roberts in the 16th minute. Antony increased the lead by winning and then scoring a penalty in the 35th minute.
Garnacho added to the score by tapping the ball in from close range in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.
