Erik ten Hag details two-word Man Utd dressing room message to stars after win

08 January 2024 , 23:01

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Erik ten Hag gave a brief verdict to his players (Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Erik ten Hag's post-match message to his players was simple: "Job done."

Manchester United breezed into the FA Cup fourth round on Monday, as they enjoyed a rare comfortable win, beating Wigan Athletic 2-0. Goals from Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes dispatched the League One side at the DW Stadium, but it could've been much more for the typically wasteful Red Devils.

Ten Hag doesn't appear to be fussed, though, telling ITV post-match: "The FA Cup is all about winning, it is knockout. You want to finish the job. That is what I said in the dressing room 'job done'."

As the fourth-round draw was made before the match, United will now travel to face fifth-tier Eastleigh or Newport County of League Two on the weekend of Saturday, January 26. Ten Hag did admit that the Red Devils could've booked their spot more emphatically, replying when asked if his players should've scored more goals: "Oh, definitely.

"In the first half, I think we created five or six very good chances. I think it was very good football. We should have taken more, but if you don't score you have to stay focused and I think we did that tonight. You can't always say why you've missed chances. There were some good attacks and good chances, but we didn't take them, but the way we created them was OK."

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Dalot, who opened the scoring with a sumptuous right-footed strike into the bottom corner, added: "I think we created a lot of chances. We could have put the ball in the net more than we did. Overall we controlled the game, we had some good moments and I'm glad that we won."

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Manchester United secured their spot in round four of the FA Cup (Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Both Ten Hag and Dalot were also asked about new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with the United manager declaring of his arrival: "It is an inspiration. Everyone is optimistic. There is a lot of work to do. We've had a lot of setbacks and I think in the summer we were in a good way but it is a journey, it is a project and now we have to deal with some setbacks but we will keep alive, survive it and strike back."

Defender Dalot added: "It brings some good, new energy with positive feelings. We're looking to the future with the good energy. You can feel at Carrington the motivation they have brought in."

Nathan Ridley