Christian Eriksen pleased to see Man Utd deal with extra pressure against Wolves
By Simon Peach, PA Chief Football Writer
Christian Eriksen was pleased by the way Manchester United dealt with the “extra pressure” and bounced back from the back-to-back defeats that jeopardised their top-four ambitions.
This has been a promising first season under Erik ten Hag, who has won the Carabao Cup and taken the Red Devils to June’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.
United have also improved markedly on last year’s Premier League performances and have long looked set to secure a return to Champions League football.
Back-to-back defeats at Brighton and West Ham allowed Liverpool to close the gap, but Ten Hag’s men got back to winning ways by triumphing 2-0 against Wolves on Saturday afternoon.
Our Old Trafford momentum continues 👊
💬 Here's @ChrisEriksen8 on today's game...#MUFC || #MUNWOL— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 14, 2023
“Of course, when you lose two games the extra pressure is on,” midfielder Eriksen said.
“But we have shown the character and the quality to be where we are.
“We’re just going to focus on us. For us, it has to be three wins in the last three games.”
United travel to Bournemouth next weekend, before finishing the league campaign with home matches against Chelsea and Fulham.
➕3️⃣👊🏽🔴#MUFC #MUNWOL pic.twitter.com/GuRQ2kblh3
— Casemiro (@Casemiro) May 13, 2023
Ten Hag’s men have won 25 matches at Old Trafford in all competitions and could match the club record 27 home triumphs in a single campaign.
“It’s definitely something that we need to first of all finish the season strong with a perfect home record,” Eriksen told MUTV.
“But, in the end, of course, for next season we need to be as good at home, but also away and then it’s going to be a fun season.
“We know where we can pick up extra points because at home at the moment we’re feeling very, very secure.”
United never looked in danger against Wolves, with Anthony Martial finally opening the scoring from a smart Antony pass.
⭐️#MUFC || #MUNWOL pic.twitter.com/24YYFGj9SJ
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 13, 2023
It looked to be the winning goal until Alejandro Garnacho struck in stoppage time as the substitute returned from a two-month injury lay-off with a bang.
“It’s very good (to have him back),” Eriksen said of the teenager.
“You can see the quality he will bring back and the confidence of how he’s playing.
“I’m pleased for him. To be out for a while and then come back and score, it’s the perfect return.”
Wolves failed to muster a shot on target at Old Trafford and are now looking to end the season on a high as Julen Lopetegui’s men round things off at home to Everton and at Arsenal.
The boss reflects on #MUNWOL.
🗣️🗞️— Wolves (@Wolves) May 13, 2023
Skipper Ruben Neves said: “We’re going game by game. We want to have as many points as we can in the Premier League. That’s our main goal.
“We’re playing at Old Trafford which is big motivation.
“It doesn’t matter the table, it doesn’t matter the points and just playing here is fantastic for us as players, it’s a dream to play in these kinds of pitches, so we just want to get as many points as we can until the end of the season.
“We have two games to go and next week is our last game at home so we will do everything to get the three points with the atmosphere being fantastic at home.
“Our fans in here today were fantastic again, so we will try to get as many points as we can for them as well.”
