Erik ten Hag praises character of 2 Man Utd stars following penalty shootout heroics
Erik ten Hag has heaped praise on Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford after they scored penalties against Brighton in Man Utd's semi-final penalty shootout win at Wembley Stadium.
Speaking to reporters ahead of United's Premier League clash with Tottenham, Ten Hag was asked about Sancho stepping up and taking a penalty despite his difficult 2022/23 season thus far:
"I think we have seen in the season many times very good performances from Jadon. I think definitely, that moment on Sunday, it will strengthen him even more and give him, as you say, more courage and more belief."
Sancho, who has endured a tough season at Old Trafford, stepped up to take the third penalty in the shootout and scored with ease. The forward had missed an extended period of time due to an unspecified illness after the World Cup, but has impressed in recent weeks after his reintegration back into the senior squad.
Both Sancho and Rashford notably missed penalties in the England's infamous shootout defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
Read the latest Man Utd news here
feed
"I think you have to recognise it and reward it for stepping up on Sunday and it was such a good penalty. It was so convincing and the same you can say for Rashy [Marcus Rashford], it was so convincing.
"I think they have stepped over the trauma and that's very good because they have shown they have character and personality. That can help us as, many times, you ask questions about bouncing back in a game, this is the same in a game, show the personality when things are not going in your direction. Make sure you turn it around.''
United will face Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup final on June 3rd.
LISTEN NOW
On this edition of The Promised Land, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders & Rob Blanchette discuss Man Utd's progress to the FA Cup final following a penalty shootout win over Brighton, and Thursday's crucial Premier League trip to Spurs.
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!