MANCHESTER, England — Erik ten Hag celebrated a “perfect night” as Manchester United dominated Barnsley with a 7-0 victory in the Carabao Cup.
Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Christian Eriksen each netted twice, while Antony added a goal from the penalty spot, marking Ten Hag’s most significant victory since taking charge. This win also represents United’s largest margin of victory since their 9-0 triumph over Southampton in February 2021 under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“Not for me but for the team this is the perfect night,” Ten Hag stated after the match. “I think we executed everything we planned; how we won, advancing to the next round, scoring great goals, entertaining the fans, and working on our game model so we are content.”
Ten Hag made eight changes from the team that defeated Southampton 3-0 on Saturday, allowing for squad rotation against League One’s Barnsley. Rashford was one of three players retained in the starting lineup and added two goals to his tally.
This marked the first instance since February 2023, when Rashford scored twice against Leicester, that he scored more than one goal in a match.
“I know from my first season here that when he scores, it makes things easier for the team,” Ten Hag noted. “Having a player who guarantees goals can be a game-changer. You can execute many aspects well, but matches are ultimately decided in the box.”
Following a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool, United rebounded impressively, scoring 10 goals without conceding against Southampton and Barnsley.
“I wasn’t devastated after the Liverpool game, and I’m not celebrating now,” Ten Hag remarked. “It’s an endless process. I have a clear vision of where I want to go. Today we showcased our speed and dynamics, and we have players capable of controlling possession. We need to work even harder to perfect all stages of our game.”