Erik ten Hag rates Mason Mount and Andre Onana's Man Utd debuts

15 August 2023 , 07:45

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Erik ten Hag had plenty to ponder after the win over Wolves (Image: PETER POWELL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Erik ten Hag was defiant about both the result and the displays of his new signings after Man Utd held on to beat Wolves 1-0 on Monday night.

Amid a stuttering display, Raphael Varane's second-half header papered over the cracks at Old Trafford with the visitors missing a string of chances over the 90 minutes. And the hosts were let off the hook in injury time when keeper Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic in the area, but the subsequent VAR check didn't deem the incident worthy of a penalty.

It proved the major talking point of Onana's debut, with Mason Mount the other big-money signing on show. Afterwards Ten Hag talked up the performances of both players, and also argued against the notion Wolves were robbed by the officials.

"(Onana) had very good saves, was very calm, very good debut," he said of the Cameroon international. "After the opponent touched the ball he dived in so it was the judgement of the officials and lucky for us no penalty. I think you can debate it but I think no penalty."

Whilst Onana undoubtedly did impress before his late brain-freeze, the performance of Mount was less than promising. The ex- Chelsea man failed to impose himself on the contest and it was of little surprise when he was hooked after 68 minutes for Christian Eriksen.

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However, the Dutch boss insisted the midfielder "did his job" on his own Old Trafford bow. "Good performance. He did what we expected him to do. He had a very good level in the game," insisted Ten Hag. "I think he did his job. It was a moderate game. I think he did well."

United's third summer signing, Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, couldn't be unleashed as he continues to recover from an injury he picked up in pre-season. United fans will be anxious to see him involved soon after a disjointed display in attack.

Andre Onana clatters into Sasa Kalajdzic

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For all his defiance, Ten Hag did take aim at his frontline afterwards, with Marcus Rashford playing the lone striker role and Antony and Alejandro Garnacho starting on the flanks. All three players were hauled off during the second half.

"I think we could have scored five or six turnovers and there were overloads," Ten Hag said. "But I think the frontline was not in the best form today and we could have made more out of it from the overload situations."

United go to Spurs on Saturday night with the club still not finished with their work in the summer transfer window. Ten Hag is still pursuing a deal for Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, while Harry Maguire is negotiating his exit to West Ham.

Fraser Watson