Ten Hag: Our spirit deserved its rewards

The boss reiterated he feels the side have been playing well, apart from the defeat at Newcastle United last time out, and was pleased with the energy and pressing of his players in outfighting the Blues and securing three welcome points.

He also discussed Scott McTominay's role, as the Scotland international scored both goals, and the impact of loanees Sofyan Amrabat and Sergio Reguilon on the night.

See a selection of what he told the official broadcasters and MUTV...

DID THE PLAYERS RESPOND?

"I don’t see that in facts of a response. We play now four games after the break, so we had one disappointing result and we had two before this night, very good performances. Today, again, a very good performance and, of course, with the result. At the end of day, it's about the result and I'm very pleased with it. I think they played very good. They also played, against Galatasaray, very good. Against Everton - very good. So you see the progress in this team and we go in the right direction." 

THE WAY TO PLAY

"When you're communicating with each other, with good organisation, you set the conditions to play well. On the ball, we were very dominant, dictating and creating a lot of chances, scoring very good goals. The way they started, in the press, and it's difficult to keep that for the whole game, but, yeah, we still have steps to make. We had a drop off in the second part of the first half but picked it up again in the second half. Especially against Chelsea, a very good team, who are very good in possession. When you don't have the pressing right, don't communicate with each other, don't have good organisation, you get killed by them. But we did very good. We had a lot of turnovers and counter moments from that."

SCOTT AND SOFYAN'S SHOWING

"I think they played very strong, very dynamic, very proactive, in and out of possession. They won a lot of duels together. Scott came in the right positions and scored two great goals. We want him to play a little bit higher on the pitch. We want to reach him there. He has to make his runs in behind as he is strong on that. He has a good smell to come in the right moment in front of the goal. He is a very good finisher. I think Sofyan is settling in. He is progressing and you see he is getting more comfortable. Already last week, against Galatasaray, he was playing well. Tonight, he played well also."

REGUILON RATED

"Sergio Reguilon came in, in the second half, and did very good. He gave good pressure over on the left side, good interceptions, but also in attacking, he had his contribution."

YOU MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK

"I think, in the first half, we created a lot of chances, by 30 minutes, we could go up by three goals maybe. To be fair, they outplayed us as well, one, two or three times and also created chances but you make your own luck when you have the spirit we showed today."

FANS' SUPPORT A CONSTANT

"I am used to it. Every time. I have to say, even in bad times, the fans and the crowd are behind us. They are supporting use and we have to please them. We have to give everything we have, as a team, it is what they can expect from us. So we have to co-operate and we have to give the best we can."