Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expects Rasmus Hojlund to keep on improving after the £72million signing finally scored his first Premier League goal to seal a stunning 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa.
United looked destined for a 14th defeat of the season in all competitions after Villa scored twice in the space of six first-half minutes through John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker. United fans made their displeasure clear as boos rang around Old Trafford at the break.
It was tense moment for the team. Just two days back, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe had struck a deal to take a minority stake at Manchester United.
Ineos director of sport Dave Brailsford, who has been named a director of United after the Ratcliffe deal, was watching on from the stands at Old Trafford.
After the break, United rallied with Alejandro Garnacho scoring twice before Hojlund won it in the 82nd minute.
Although Hojlund, the summer signing from Atalanta, finished as United's top-scorer in their short-lived Champions League campaign, he failed to find the net in 16 matches in domestic competition. He made no mistake when McGinn flicked the ball into his path eight minutes from time.
Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Onana. Didn’t come out for Villa’s opening goal and picked the goal out for the second time after 27 minutes. Soft goals. Played long balls over the top and assisted the attack. Top save on 62. Fine ball to Garnacho on 63. AP -
Played out of position and gave the ball to Bailey to set up a Villa attack. Poor in the first half, much better in the second as he was helpful in attack. Getty Images -
Questionable in Villa’s goal, but then another top performances alongside Evans. Tried to rally fans at the end on an intoxicating evening at Old Trafford. Getty Images -
Cleaned up a Dalot error early on. Cleared a ball off the line on 71 from McGinn when it was 2-2. Impeccable timing and experience showed. Thirty five years old and playing like prime time Baresi. Reuters -
Needed more support in the first half, but while limited in attack, defensively sound. Getty Images -
Sat deeper than Eriksen and Fernandes. Blocked off and couldn’t get near the ball for Villa’s opener. More minutes, more confidence, more maturity shown and, like the rest, he improved in the second. AP -
Big game. Looked fit, created, controlled and it’s better that he’s back from injury. Had United’s first shot on target on 10. AP -
Better. Shot on target early then, then well wide on 44. Set up Garnacho on 49 when he might have been better going it alone. Then did it for real. Brought down by Martinez as he chased a ball down. Getty Images -
Complained a lot, because it hurts how bad this United team were in the first half. Anticipated to win the ball in the buildup for United’s first and involved in the equaliser. Booked for moaning. Far better and more advanced in the second half. PA -
Did well in a 14th minute break, but let players run in behind him and didn’t track back. Hit side netting on 45, but offside. Put the ball in the net on 48 – a decent finish, but again offside. Finally got his reward with a neat finish for 1-2. Shot across goal on 63, then equalised on 70. What a moment. Man of the match. AP -
Played against two central defenders and had almost no service. Didn’t hold ball up well, first touch was poor. Offside when there could have been a penalty appeal. Tried and tried then he scored, yes he scored, a left foot volley on 82 for his first Premier League goal. What relief! PA -
SUBS: (Rashford 79) Came on and United scored the winner soon after. Getty Images -
(Mainoo 81) Came on at 2-2. No dramatic winners here from him, that was left to his teammate. AFP -
(Hojlund 88) Into a three-man defence. Covered from a Varane mistake to clear the ball. Getty Images -
(Eriksen 94) On for an injection of Mancunian energy and a Premier League debut. Hannibal Mejbri (Garnacho 94) - N/A. Getty Images -
ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Martinez. Forced into a routine save by Eriksen in the tenth minute. Made two good saves to deny Rashford in the first half. PA -
Endured a difficult outing against the pace and trickiness of Rashford. Made a vital interception to stop Mainoo from playing Rashford through on goal. AFP -
Enjoyed a good defensive performance in the first half but had to leave the field early in the second due to injury. EPA -
Played a terrible pass straight into the path of Rashford and almost gifted the home side a goal. Assisted Dendoncker’s goal with a header back across the face of goal. Did well to stop Garnacho’s run into the visitors penalty area. EPA -
Excellent recovery challenge to stop Dalot’s cutback into the danger area. His awful attempt at playing out from the back was pounced upon by the home side and led to Garnacho’s first goal. Unlucky to deflect Garnacho’s shot past Martinez for the home side’s second goal. Getty Images -
Hardworking performance from the Belgian at the base of the visitors' midfield. Doubled the visitors' lead with an improvised flick from close range. Getty Images -
Enjoyed an impressive first half, during which he helped build attacks from the back. Failed to make the same impact in the second and was left chasing shadows. Getty Images -
Found it tough going forward against the defensively astute Wan-Bissaka. Reduced to mostly defensive contributions in the second half. Getty Images -
Looked lively at the beginning of the game and caused Dalot problems. Called Onana into action with a deft touch on the hour mark. AP -
Opened the scoring with an inswinging freekick that left Onana bamboozled. Denied a goal by a goalline clearance from Evans in the second half. Unlucky to see the ball come off him and into the path of Hojlund for the Red Devils’ third goal. Getty Images -
An ineffective outing for Watkins up front for Aston Villa. He failed to test Onana and was hardly involved in build-up play. Getty Images -
SUBS: (Digne, 49) Muscled off the ball too easily by Garnacho to give the home side a very good chance in the 62nd minute. Caught out of position for the home side’s equaliser. AFP -
(Jacob Ramsey, 77) Made a mess of a cross few minutes after coming on. Getty Images -
(Bailey, 77) Tried to make things happen after coming on, but he was well marshalled by the home side’s backline. Tim Iroegbunam (Dendoncker, 86) - N/A. Jhon Duran (McGinn, 86) - N/A. AFP
"Of course I've had several talks with him and every time I've pointed out he has scored for Denmark a lot, he has scored in the Champions League, he has demonstrated his ability so you can do it, believe," Ten Hag said of the Dane, 20.
"I'm sure now he has the first goal he will score more. When a striker doesn't score it's a problem but he has a strong character, he is so solid, determined. He has a big personality. I think this is what a striker needs. When you keep investing, the goals will come."
Ten Hag said he is looking forward to working with new management.
"We are looking forward, I think it's positive for the club that they are in the stepping in," Ten Hag said. "They have a lot of experience in sport on the highest level, F1, the cycling team (Ineos Grenadiers), other football clubs, so it can only help and support us to get our targets.
"So we are looking forward. They want to work with us and we want to work with them."
Tuesday's clash was truly a game of two halves as United looked re-energised after the break. The team was serenaded with delighted singing and a standing ovation at the final whistle.
"So we said: keep going and believe it, in ourselves," Ten Hag said. "And I said that is what I demand from the team, I said it before the game, I said it during halftime, keep believing and we will win this game."
