Erik ten Hag dismissed any talk of Manchester United’s season being in crisis as he stressed “we are going in the right direction” following the 2-1 win over Chelsea.
United went into the contest at Old Trafford on the back of Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Newcastle United, their 10th defeat in all competitions this term.
After Bruno Fernandes saw an early penalty saved by Robert Sanchez, a Scott McTominay brace, either side of Cole Palmer’s equaliser, secured United a victory that took them up to sixth in the Premier League table, three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
When asked at his post-match press conference what that said to him about a season that has felt like it has been in crisis, United boss Ten Hag said: “Crisis? Not for us.
“We keep calm, look at the process where we know where we have to build. We are going in the right direction.
“We don’t get distracted [by] criticism around us, but we are very critical on ourselves. We are not quickly satisfied and happy, we always want to do better. We have to improve a lot if we want to be successful – but this team is capable of being successful.”
One of four players coming into Ten Hag’s starting line-up was Antony, who in the build up to the contest had been quoted as telling YouTube channel The United Stand that he could “see criticism [of him] coming from former club players and other people in the media, who unreasonably express their opinions”.
Ten Hag said of the Brazil winger’s performance against Chelsea, which included winning the penalty: “This is the attitude he needs, and what he has to contribute to the team. He was very bright, he got very good positions on the ball, he made also very good decisions. He is stepping up and he has to build from this.”
Ten Hag also praised midfielder McTominay – now on six United goals for the season after his 19th-minute strike and 69th-minute header – as he said: “He has the skills to arrive in the right moment, he has the smell and then he has a very good finish.”
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, whose side remain 10th, said of a display in which the Blues, as well as scoring via Palmer late in the first half also hit the woodwork twice through Mykhailo Mudryk and substitute Armando Broja, said: “I’m disappointed because we didn’t start well.
“They started better than us, showing more energy than us. We didn’t match their energy. I think if we talk about overall, I’d say they were better than us and deserved to win.”
To check out player ratings from the match scroll through the picture gallery at the top of the page.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Opening Rugby Championship fixtures:Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
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Huroob Ezterari
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