Erik Ten Hag hails Harry Maguire and Wout Weghorst as Roy Keane hits out at West Ham | Football News

Erik ten Hag was full of praise for the “dominance” of defenders Harry Maguire and Wout Weghorst after Manchester United reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over West Ham.

United struggled to get into a groove for much of the Old Trafford encounter and fell behind to Said Benrahma’s opener after half-time, but Nayef Aguerd’s own goal and late strikes from Alejandro Garnacho and Fred sealed their place in the last eight. with Fulham.

Ten Hag highlighted Maguire’s performance after the England centre-back returned to the United line-up after three games away from the starting team.

The United manager said in his post-match press conference: “He dominated in defence, but in offence, he had some very good moments, good passes and got involved and tackled the opposition. He played a good game.

“How to help him? In training. Soon I showed him a video [on] how to outplay opponents and how people can have more impact in possession and build up with skills.

“He is very skilled for a centre-back. He has a lot of skills and needs to be used in the game.”

When asked if the video showed clips of Maguire or other top-tier centre-backs, Ten Hag replied: “Both.”

Ten Hag also described striker Weghorst as “one of the best players on the pitch” – saying the Dutch forward was influential in all three goals.

The on-loan striker put pressure on West Ham’s defense which led to Aguerd’s own goal, before closing down the Hammers’ backline which led to Fred’s late strike.

“He is one of the best players on the field,” said Ten Hag of Weghorst. “He was involved. He was in front when he went up there with Harry to force an own goal from the opposition.

“Garnacho’s goal was pressing and he was sure [pressing] in the third goal when he did a good press and forced the opponent to make a mistake so Fred could score. He knows his position. In and out of possession, he did a fantastic job for the team.

Asked if it was the only goal missing from Weghorst’s game, Ten Hag replied: “It will come.

“I have experienced with many players. I refer to Rashford at the beginning of the season, he did not score goals in every game, but I know that my experience will come when he is more settled. games with us but not for a long time. But the routine will be there and when he has his first goal, more will come.

Keane: West Ham are worthless, laugh

Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane hit David Moyes’ Hammer for “surprising” second-half performance, accusing the Londoners of gifting United three goals.

Asked if he felt West Ham would go on to win, Keane said ITV: “Never happened. See everything before, come, a bit dizzy, get a chance.

“A lot of teams, the Spurs of the world, come to Old Trafford, get a few chances and they’re all excited and they end up getting beaten.

“Defensively, West Ham were shocked. It was terrible [and] it was pointless in the second half. He gave up three goals!

“Give credit to United, you know there’s going to be a reaction. It’s a great game to find a way to win. We saw the set-piece delivery at the weekend, and the contribution from the substitutes. Fred scored. But there’s no surprise what we did. We’ve seen tonight this.

“I’ve seen over the years, West Ham laugh. You get a chance, you have to take it. You talk about small margins, the players have to do their job!”

Asked about West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola’s role in Aguerd’s own goal, Keane added: “The goalkeeper has to go out there. I remember a goalkeeper coach I used to work with saying: ‘Go out with violence.’ You come and take them out.

“But you see [Areola and his West Ham defenders] there and they talked like they were at Starbucks.

“Go and take them out. Come with violence. That’s your job.”