Scott McTominay emerged as the hero for Manchester United, rescuing the game with his double and securing a crucial three points for Erik ten Hag’s side. This victory propelled Manchester United to ninth place, but the impact of McTominay’s last-gasp winner may be worth even more than the three points earned today.
It almost felt destined that McTominay, who has faced limited opportunities under the former Ajax boss, would be the one to step up when needed the most. After the game, McTominay revealed what Erik ten Hag told him before sending him onto the pitch.
Ten Hag’s message was succinct and humorous, as he jokingly stated, “I said, ‘Score two goals!'” McTominay, in response, added a touch of humor to the situation, admitting, “It was very loud, the fans were roaring us on, so I couldn’t hear fully. He [Ten Hag] probably said something like: ‘Go on and score,’ which is precisely what I did.”
Whatever instructions Ten Hag provided to the 25-year-old clearly worked wonders, as McTominay proved to be a relentless presence in the box for Thomas Frank’s side, causing them considerable trouble.
McTominay’s recent performances for Scotland, where he has been pushed further forward by Steve Clarke, suggest that a new role may be emerging for him. The striker-like instinct he displayed in rifling in Diogo Dalot’s effort for the equalizer and the precision of his headed goal were reminiscent of a forward.
Given Manchester United’s current shortage of attacking options, McTominay could potentially be the solution to this problem, offering a versatile and dynamic presence in the attacking ranks.