Ighalo: Luton win was an important step for us
Odion Ighalo believes Manchester United's 3-0 win over Luton Town can spur the team on to Premier League success against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.
Ighalo: We're getting sharper
Odion says one week of preparation wasn't enough to beat Palace, but thinks United's fitness is improving quickly...
“We've not started the league very well, but we've won today and I think it's a boost for this weekend's game against Brighton. We'll go there and try to win and start the Premier League [again].”
“We were disappointed at the weekend because we didn't win the game against Crystal Palace," explained the striker. "We only had one week to prepare for that game; I think they had been preparing for four weeks. So it can tell a bit. But, now we've won this game, I think it's a boost for us. It gives us more confidence to go to this weekend's game. Hopefully we'll win this weekend and start on a good note in the Premier League.
“You can see we are getting fitter and everybody's getting the sharpness. Everyone's getting the game-time, getting fitter and fitter in every game. Now we go to the next game and have some minutes again and keep getting better and better.”
Highlights: Luton 0 United 3
See the best bits from our Carabao Cup third-round win, including goals from Mata, Rashford and Greenwood…
The 31-year-old felt there were two key moments against Luton, in a game where the Championship side gave United a good contest.
“They defended very well," said Odion. “They know, if they give us the chance, that we're going to score goals, so I thought they defended very well. Towards the end, we got the goals.
“I think that [the penalty by Juan Mata] was the turning point, because when we started the game, we were pushing, pushing, and the goal didn't come. Fortunately we had that penalty and we got the goal, so it makes the team even more confident.”