Manchester United managed to keep Real Betis at bay on the La Liga outfit's home turf before Marcus Rashford's individual brilliance ensured that the Red Devils secured a safe passage to the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
Real Betis were evidently going for the kill in the first half, but Erik Ten Hag's side absorbed the pressure and defended well against Manuel Pellegrini's side. This saw a cagey first half unfold, with Real Betis fans chanting throughout in an attempt to break Man United's defense.
Although it was Jouqauin's belcher that hit off the woodwork, it appears to be the closest the La Liga side came to scoring in the first half. The second half kicked off with the visitors taking control and dictating the game. After spurring a number of chances, Marcus Rashford came up big in the 55th minute to break the deadlock, and that was the only goal of the game as Manchester United's progression to the quarterfinals was confirmed.
Manchester United's manager Erik Ten Hag was happy with his side as they appeared to execute their game plan perfectly. "Of course, what we have to avoid is getting the stadium lit up to give them energy by conceding a goal," Erik Ten Hag told MUTV in his postmatch interview.
"So don't light up the stadium." We have seen that there was some noise at the start of the game. "We allowed them some transition moments, but once you score that first goal, the game is gone for them,"
"They don't have the belief any more, and you have to manage that away stadium." We could have scored before halftime because the first goal is so important. "We created some chances, but the final pass was not good. The finish was not good."
"It was still 0-0, and they still believed, but after the 1-0 for us, I think their belief was gone already," he stated.
As the game entered the later part of the second half, the only noise coming from the crowd was that of the traveling fans, who were more than happy to see their team secure a win and eliminate their second Spanish opponent this season, given the Red Devils' recent history against La Liga sides. Erik Ten Hag also enjoyed the victory.
"It was another step we made in mentality." "A winning attitude and how to deal with that [away crowd],"
"We performed now three times quite well in away games in Spain. Two wins and one draw. "That is okay, but I think that is the way you have to face these games," he said.
The manager is already shifting his attention to the Emirates FA Cup quarterfinal clash with Fulham; the London club will visit Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon to decide which team progresses to the semifinals.
"It's a big game on Sunday." "We know that, so we have to do everything that is in our power to get that done," he stressed.
"We have less time, we know, but we can manage that." We've done it several times, and also on Sunday, we must get the energy, get the focus, and get ready for the start. It's the FA Cup and a big fixture, a big match for us. "After Sunday, we will see. It's the international break, and we can refocus."
The 53-year-old as well laid down the team's plans and targets for the rest of the season, which would be the task that would be focused on after the international break.
"We have to progress every day." We still have many gaps in the way we play. We have to work on that. "We have to improve that because we want to compete with the best teams in the world."
"At Manchester United, we have to win every competition." "This competition is important; it's also about the trophy but also about the qualification for the Champions League next year," he explained.
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