Manchester United coach Erik Ten Hag said his side’s win over Barcelona eclipsed their Premier League victories at home to Arsenal and Liverpool as they reached the UEFA Europa League round 16. Barcelona is the leader of La Liga eight points ahead of Real Madrid.
Second-half goals by Fred and Antony rewarded a stirring comeback by the third-placed team in the top flight, handling La Liga leaders Barcelona a first defeat in 19 games as they were knocked out of Europe with a 4-3 aggregate defeat in the playoffs at Old Trafford. “We’ve had some good wins”, reflected Ten Hag after his team ensured their campaign continued in four competitions by recovering from Robert Lewandowski’s early penalty.
Erik Ten Hag Confident Manchester United Can ‘Beat Anyone’ After Taking Down Barcelona In Europe
Robert Lewandowski’s early penalty gave Barca the perfect start at Old Trafford. But the La Liga leader has beaten again on the European stage as Fred evened the score for United early in the second half before Antony delivered his biggest moment since arriving in from Ajax. Manchester United should fear no one in its quest to win four trophies, manager Erik Ten Hag proclaimed. The fact that two of the continent’s giants were clashing at this stage of Europe’s second-tier competition is evidence that both have fallen on hard times in recent years.
But United is riding a wave of momentum and remains in the hunt for trophies on four fronts. United did not hold anything back against Barcelona and secured its biggest European victory since dumping Paris Saint- Germain out of the Champions League last 16 in dramatic fashion in 2019. United is now unbeaten at Old Trafford in 18 games.
