Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay is someone Erik ten Hag can rely on after McTominay scored twice in stoppage time to seal a win over Brentford.
After Scott McTominay’s superb performance against Brentford on Saturday, Rio Ferdinand said that Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag now has someone he can “rely on in times of need.”
Scotland international McTominay scored twice in stoppage time to give United a win at Old Trafford and prevent a third straight loss across all competitions.
The 26-year-old has worked his way through the United ranks, making his debut under Jose Mourinho and becoming a seasoned figure in the locker room, but he has been unable to find regular playing time as of late.
Despite Ten Hag’s preference for using Casemiro, Sofyan Amrabat, and Mason Mount in McTominay’s preferred position, former United great Rio Ferdinand thinks McTominay’s brace on Saturday could lead to more consistent playing time.
Ferdinand insisted McTominay can be relied upon by Ten Hag in future critical situations after his game-winning goals on Saturday.
“The manager now knows he can rely on Scott McTominay to come in and be focused and someone he can rely on in times of need,” Ferdinand stated on his Five YouTube show.
“I am not saying that McTominay is going to be the go-to guy when we are a goal down or anything like that, but he has shown you he has a certain Man United spirit,” Mourinho said.
“As someone who has come up through the club’s ranks, there is much to be said for his attitude and application in terms of driving the football club’s culture,” he said.
McTominay is currently away on international duty with Scotland, where he aims to continue his prolific goal-scoring record and assist the national team qualify for next year’s European Championship.
The United star is equal for second in the qualification goalscoring ranks with Rasmus Hojlund of the Red Devils with six goals. Romelu Lukaku leads the race with eight goals.
United players, mourning the loss of Sir Alex Ferguson’s wife Cathy earlier in the week, wore black armbands throughout their triumph on Saturday.
During his stint аs United mаnаger, Fergusоn оversаw numerоus drаmаtic lаte-gаme gоаls, аnd Ferdinаnd nоted thаt McTоminаy’s lаte winner wоuld hаve been pаrticulаrly meаningful tо him.
A beautiful moment, when phrased that way it’s like wow, the manager would have been smiling with that, Ferdinand added.
Nоbоdy in the Fergusоn hоusehоld wаs prоbаbly lаughing аt thаt, but I imаgine аfterwаrd he wаs thinking, “There’s nо better wаy I wоuld hаve wаnted this weekend tо end fоr me persоnаlly.”