Erik ten Hag, the Manchester United manager, has shed light on the reasons behind Dan Gore’s debut for the club against Crystal Palace, emphasizing the importance of hard work and high training standards.
In a game where Ten Hag made seven changes from the weekend lineup against Burnley, the quality of the team remained evident. Players like Andre Onana, Raphael Varane, Casemiro, and Mason Mount were among the starters.
United asserted their dominance early, with Alejandro Garnacho opening the scoring in the 20th minute from close range. Shortly after, Casemiro’s powerful header from a corner put the Reds 2-0 ahead. The game was effectively sealed at that point, as Crystal Palace posed little threat. Anthony Martial added the third goal in the second half.
The match marked a perfect evening for United, securing a comfortable victory while welcoming players back from injury. The same fixture awaits Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in a few days, this time in the Premier League.
For Dan Gore, it was a dream night as he made his senior debut for the club, replacing Sofyan Amrabat in the 60th minute. The 19-year-old midfielder was part of the 2021/22 FA Youth Cup-winning squad and signed a new contract in July.
In a post-match interview with MUTV, Ten Hag discussed Gore’s debut, coinciding with the young player’s 19th birthday. He emphasized that opportunities are earned at the club, with players needing to demonstrate their worth.
“I think it’s a great birthday for him, but I’m not a manager – and we don’t have coaches here – who give players opportunities [for nothing], they have to deserve it. Once they deserve it, they get the chance,” Ten Hag explained.
“But then, they have to prove it, and I think, the young players like Hannibal, Pellistri, and Garnacho, they have to do it every time, and we are very critical. They must earn it every day in training. When the standards are too low, they will hear it, and we don’t play them because they have to train every day to the maximum.”