MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United booked their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 4-2 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Beaten 3-1 by Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, United got some revenge by twice coming from behind to edge out Unai Emery’s side.
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After a forgettable first half, the visitors led twice through Ollie Watkins and a Diogo Dalot own goal but were pegged back by equalisers from fit again Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, who celebrated his England World Cup call-up with his eighth goal of the season.
Bruno Fernandes put United in front 12 minutes from time before Scott McTominay added a fourth in stoppage time as Erik ten Hag’s kept alive their hopes of winning the trophy for the first time since 2017.
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Rapid reaction
1. Ten Hag puts trophy hopes before the World Cup
Speaking ahead of the game, Erik ten Hag said his priority this season is to get United into the top four and back in the Champions League. But the Dutchman also knows the importance of quickly ending the club’s five-year trophy drought and even with the World Cup just days away, there were no days off for his key players.
Ten Hag made seven changes from the team which lost at Villa Park on Sunday but still started with Harry Maguire, Martial, Dalot, Rashford and Fernandes and he was rewarded with a place in the draw for the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Ten Hag is smart enough to understand that even English football’s second domestic trophy is worth his time, particularly because United haven’t won anything since 2017 when Jose Mourinho was in charge.
Progress in the Carabao Cup means playing again just days after the World Cup final in December, but Ten Hag won’t care as long as he’s got a chance to win some silverware. His celebrations at the final whistle were evidence that this is a trophy he wants to win.
2. United need Martial to stay fit
Martial was one of United’s stand-out players on the preseason tour of Thailand and Australia but his season has been disrupted by three separate injuries. Back to full fitness and with Cristiano Ronaldo ruled out because of illness, he started against Villa and scored his fourth goal in just his sixth appearance of the campaign. Goals haven’t been a problem for the Frenchman this season; the issue has been staying fit.
Back playing again, Martial could have a big role to play for United in the second half of the season. Omitted from the France squad for the World Cup, he should be well rested when the Premier League restarts after Christmas and Ten Hag will hope having him back will help United solve their problem scoring goals.
He’s a more natural fit than Ronaldo in Ten Hag’s centre forward role and, certainly during the summer, United looked a better team with him leading the line. He was substituted early here — presumably as a precaution as he builds up his match fitness — but he will be vital when the season resumes after the World Cup. Ten Hag can only hope that he stays injury free.
