Erik ten Hag explains how Hannibal Mejbri improved Manchester United vs Burnley

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag lauded Hannibal Mejbri's energy in their 1-0 win at Burnley. Mejbri came in for only his second United start and his first since May 2022 and started in the No.10 role at Turf Moor as Bruno Fernandes shifted to the right-hand side.

The presence of 20-year-olds Mejbri and Rasmus Hojlund gave United a willing pair of pressers to counter Burnley's ball-playing centre-backs and Mejbri completed the full match. Read more: United player ratings vs Burnley Read more: Evans' influence for United went beyond an assist at Burnley The Tunisia international scored his first United goal off the bench against Brighton a week earlier and Ten Hag had no hesitation about promoting Mejbri to the starting side for a must-win game at Burnley. "We brought some energy in the team," Ten Hag explained. "The pressing of Rasmus Hojlund and Hannibal, the toegtherness, how they start the moments of the pressing, the timing was very good.

The togetherness with Bruno and Rashy was very good. "We controlled the game in that spell because they started the pressing so well and once they were beaten, there was a recovery and Hannibal did that very good. "This is only one win but what we have seen is, first, there is togetherness and there is unity, there is a real good spirit in the dressing room. "And what we have seen is when you defend with XI and you do it in the right moment and you run and recognise the recovery triggers, it is very difficult to play against Man United - against this Man United. "And that made us last season so hard to beat and so many clean sheets.

And it's no coincidence to day we have a clean sheet." Ten Hag felt Sergio Reguilon's willingness to play despite illness highlighted the