Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has expressed his pleasure with the mentality of his players to turn around a horror start against Nottingham Forest to win 3-2 at Old Trafford on Saturday. 

In United’s third game of the 2023/2024 season, the Red Devils started on the back foot as Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi became the third African after Mohammed Salah and Emmanuel Adebayor to score in seven straight Premier League games by netting his team ahead after just two minutes.

Willy Boly doubled Forest’s lead two minutes later for a shocking first five minutes to the game. United, who won their first game against Wolves 1-0 before losing 2-0 to Spurs at New Tottenham stadium, were staring at another embarrassing defeat until Christian Erikson and Casemiro, in the 17th minute and 52nd minutes, respectively, equalized.

Manchester United was given the opportunity to take the game when the visitors were reduced to ten men in the 67th before Bruno Fernandes won the game with a penalty nine minutes later.

Ten Hag, who berated the mistakes of his defenders, was ironically pleased with his team’s performance, saying they played good football.

“It is a horror start, giving them two goals and making mistakes. But I am very pleased with the comeback, the leadership, how we stayed calm and composed and stuck to the plans and belief and turned it around. And I think we played very good football; out of our plan, we scored very good goals.” Ten Hag said.

Manchester United’s football league game of the season will take them away to the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal this weekend before the games after the international break against Brighton and Burnley.

The Gunners are unbeaten in their first three games of the season, although they did get just one point in their most recent game against Fulham at Emirates Stadium in a 2-2 draw.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu