'The enjoyment can sometimes be lost'
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay says he is enjoying the challenge of learning a new system following an impressive showing against Burnley.
Putting in a Man-of-the-Match performance against the Clarets at Old Trafford, the Scotland international scored the opener in our 3-1 Premier League victory.
The 25-year-old stole the show, including smashing in a strike only kept out by a remarkable save by Wayne Hennessey, from which Cristiano Ronaldo netted the rebound.
Speaking to MUTV and Amazon Prime, Scott said he and the rest of the squad were working hard to implement interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s ideas.
“Tonight, I could have had more than one goal, which is obviously part and parcel of what the manager wants. He wants players to get in the box.
McTominay: I could have scored more than once
"Tonight I could have had more than one goal and that's what the manager wants," says Scott...
“We said it before the game, we need players to get in the box more. We need to be more involved with putting crosses in the box, bodies in there to score goals and I felt like we did in the first half.
“It was a real justified first-half performance from us and obviously the message in the second half was go out and do it again. However, Burnley are a real tough team to break down and obviously games like that are difficult but, when you score early, it makes it a lot easier as well.
“Every system and every different manager brings new challenges which is exciting for footballers," he added. "That’s what you enjoy doing and I feel like the enjoyment out of football can sometimes get lost.
“Like games like tonight, we should enjoy the game and smile with the fans and enjoy it. It’s not always negative like you see on social media and stuff like that, where people are always angry.”
On the difference in performance to the 1-1 draw at Newcastle United earlier in the week, Scott said: “I feel like there was more energy, but goals help energy. Obviously, goals help energy and obviously if we banged two or three against Newcastle in the first half, I feel like the whole team gets energy so goals, putting it in the back of the net, is so important.
“I feel like the whole reason why the performance was disappointing against Newcastle was the turnovers. It was as simple as that. I feel like off the ball at Newcastle, we weren’t as bad as what people are saying.
“Obviously, [negative] body language is one thing and the manager’s completely come and cut that out and he’s said he wants no more, so that’s final. All the players have firmly taken that on board and it’s important that we do.”
Scott also said that the team would “keep plugging away and try and have a better year next year” as we reach the end of 2021.
“It’s the old cliché but, new managers come in," he stated. "It’s different. We’re adapting, we’re learning, we don’t want to look too far ahead.
“Obviously, it’s such a clichéd thing to say in football but the next game against Wolves is more important than anything we’ve got on in our lives at the minute.”