Erik ten Hag stays grounded despite big win for Manchester United

Erik ten Hag will not get carried away with his biggest win as Manchester United manager but was encouraged by "big guy" Marcus Rashford's brace and the overall performance against Barnsley.

Having bounced back from damaging Premier League losses to Brighton and Liverpool with a 3-0 win at Southampton on Saturday, attention switched to the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

United made light work of League One outfit Barnsley at Old Trafford, where Alejandro Garnacho, Rashford and Christian Eriksen scored two apiece on top of Antony’s spot-kick in a 7-0 thumping.

Asked if it was the perfect night having comprehensively beaten his previous 4-1 best, Ten Hag said: "Yes, you can say (that) – not for me but for the team it’s the perfect night.

"I think we could do everything what we planned to do. I think how we win, next round, scored some great goals, entertained the fans, we worked on our game model, so we are happy.

"I was not devastated after Liverpool (3-0 defeat). I am not now celebrating.

"We are in a journey and we will see where we are in May because then we have to be good, and then you have to be at your best and, in the meantime, every time progress the team."

United have scored 10 goals without reply since returning from the international break, with three of those coming from the boots of homegrown forward Rashford.

The 26-year-old scored a career-best 30 goals in Ten Hag’s first season in charge but went off the boil last term, leading to his omission from England’s Euro 2024 squad.

Rashford scored his first goal since March at St Mary’s and confidently added a further two against Barnsley.

"The goals not only have to come from Marcus Rashford," Ten Hag said.

"We need more goalscorers but I know from my first season here