Nottingham, Jan. 26 (BNA): Manchester United’s hopes of winning the Premier League may be fading, but the first final under Erik ten Hag is now on the horizon.
A 3-0 away win in the League Cup semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday put United in control ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford next week, the Associated Press reports.
Goals from Marcus Rashford, Foote Wieghorst and Bruno Fernandes at City Stadium went a long way towards alleviating the disappointment of a late 3-2 loss to Arsenal on Sunday, which dented United’s challenge for the top spot in the league.
However, Ten Hag moved a step closer to winning the club’s first title in six years.
A Wembley final against Newcastle or Southampton awaits United unless Forest can mount an unexpected encounter.
Newcastle leads Southampton 1-0 after the first leg.
“We have to play one game, we have to do the same,” Ten Hag said. “We have to prepare and have a good game plan and the players have to focus.”
Rashford opened the scoring for United six minutes later with an attack from halfway through before slotting past Joe Worrall and Remo Freuler in the box to clinically finish the game.
It was the in-form England forward’s 10th goal in such matches since returning from the World Cup and his fifth in the League Cup this season. No player from Europe’s top five leagues scored that many during that period.
The video assistant referee ruled out a goal for Sam Surig for offside, before Wighurst, who signed on loan from Burnley this month, scored his first goal for his new club in the 45th minute.
Anthony’s shot from the edge of the penalty area was only saved by Forest goalkeeper Wayne Hennessy and Wighurst responded sharply to convert the rebound.
Fernandes wrapped up the scoring in the 89th minute, potentially ending Forest’s slim hopes of a comeback.
“We put ourselves in this situation and we have to deal with it next week,” said forest manager Steve Cooper.
United have not won a title since 2017, when Jose Mourinho’s side won the League Cup and Europa League in their first season.
Ten Hag aims to repeat the feat by handing over the trophy in his first campaign after being appointed at the end of last season.
The former Ajax boss spoke this week about the importance of silverware in his bid to restore United to their former glories.
He questioned the winning mentality of his players after the defeat against Arsenal and left his team 11 points ahead of the league leaders, but he got the required response against Forest.
“We lost the last game so we had to produce now as our team,” United defender Lisandro Martinez said. “You can see when we do the right things, we don’t concede goals. We controlled the game, but we still have a lot of things to improve and we have to keep going.”