Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo posed for iconic picture throughout win over West Ham – however can rising stars keep excessive ranges to spice up United’s top-four hopes? Watch Aston Villa vs Manchester United reside on Sky Sports Premier League from 4pm on Sunday; kick-off 4.30pm.

It is a picture which can be referenced and reused in years to come back.

Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, sat on the promoting boards at Old Trafford in celebration on the Argentine’s first purpose within the win over West Ham, instantly struck as an iconic second.

But whether or not it is going to be appeared again on because the dawning of a brand new period of success for United or a quick flash of promise which pale away can be right down to that gifted trio, the group round them and the work of head coach Erik ten Hag.

Promise is one factor however at United outcomes are demanded proper now.

That was the message emphasised by Ten Hag as he sat down with Sky Sports at United’s coaching floor, nonetheless warming up after a session out within the sleet and wind at Carrington. They have been robust circumstances, he says, however these are the decisive days – and even in February, United are in must-win mode.

Back-to-back victories final week in opposition to Wolves and West Ham have boosted the temper – “It gives confidence,” says the Dutchman – but when the staff are to attain Champions League qualification, the eight-point hole to fourth-placed Aston Villa should be closed when United go to play Unai Emery’s males on Sunday, reside on Sky Sports.

“We have some exciting players,” smiles Ten Hag when requested about Hojlund (aged 21), Garnacho (19) and Mainoo (18) sat collectively.

“We also have had such [standout] moments during the season – for instance, the brilliant goal from Garnacho against Everton,” he says, referencing that spectacular overhead kick at Goodison Park.

“We have some very high potentials in this squad. And now we have to perform to high levels.

“We do it now in some video games however on Sunday, as an example, we get an opposition who’ve a really excessive stage. So that is a problem to carry out there and to get finish product from these gamers on Sunday. So they’re the subsequent steps, which have to come back.”

Ten Hag knows all about the power and momentum in-form young players can bring to a team. It was a driving force during his time at Ajax. It has also long been a foundation for success at United.

Coupled with the experience of players such as Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, it can be a winning formula.

“They bring energy,” says Ten Hag of his younger gamers. “I think it’s always a combination of experience and high potentials. And when they respect each other, and they want to strengthen each other, then you have a team and that is always the objective because every player knows when there is a team you can achieve higher performances and higher levels and so achieve more.”

Another key ingredient, after all, is objectives. And in Hojlund, United now have a striker who seems to be to have lastly discovered his toes within the Premier League. There have been a flurry of strikes in Europe earlier on this marketing campaign however with 4 objectives in his final 4 top-flight video games, it feels just like the big-money summer time signing is now beginning to ship.

That scoring streak started in opposition to Aston Villa on Boxing Day, when he hit a late winner in a comeback victory at Old Trafford. The reduction and launch of stress when that ball discovered the online was plain to see in his celebration. But it’s maybe the consistency of choice in assault which has maintained his run of type.

In every of United’s final 4 Premier League video games, they’ve had Marcus Rashford and Garnacho flanking the younger Dane. The entrance three have a mixed 10 objectives and three assists in these matches – greater than the ten purpose involvements they’ve registered between them in different Premier League video games this season.

“Football is about co-operation,” says Ten Hag. “Finding the spaces by movements, by moving the ball and bringing players into positions where they can attack opponents or get into one-on-one situations. And then those players have the abilities to score goals.”

Finding acquainted patterns and combos throughout the pitch has been a difficulty for United and Ten Hag all through this marketing campaign due to an extended record of accidents. Ten Hag celebrated the actual fact he might lastly title his strongest XI for the primary time this time period in opposition to Wolves final week. A sport later, he misplaced Lisandro Martinez to a knee harm.

“Absolutely,” he says when requested if that has been the good frustration of this season. “It stops the progress.

“Every time it’s a must to alter you do not have routines, you do not have partnerships and that’s what we have now seen.

“I think we have had nine different set-ups in the centre-half positions. In other positions we have to swap a lot and that was forced by injuries so we hope now we can keep a consistent team.”

United will definitely must be at their finest this weekend. Ten Hag describes the work of his counterpart at Aston Villa, Unai Emery, as “incredible”, and the hosts can be keen to reply to their shock FA Cup replay loss to Chelsea on Wednesday night time. But that is the time when United want their stars – and rising stars – to step up.

“We know we can beat them,” says Ten Hag, referring to the Boxing Day win. “But Sunday is a new game. It’s a test. We have to take the chance.”

Man Utd’s next five games

• Aston Villa (A) – Premier League, Sunday February 11, reside on Sky Sports
• Luton (A) – Premier League, Sunday February 11, reside on Sky Sports
• Fulham (H) – Premier League, Saturday February 24
• Bristol City/Nottingham Forest (A) – FA Cup, Wednesday February 28
• Manchester City (A) – Premier League, Sunday March 3, reside on Sky Sports

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