Why Marcus Rashford gave Manchester United penalty to Antony

Erik ten Hag praised Marcus Rashford for allowing Antony to take a penalty in Manchester United’s 7-0 win over Barnsley on Tuesday night.

United recorded their biggest winning margin of Ten Hag's tenure as braces from Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen as well as a penalty from Antony secured a huge win.

Rashford could have ended the night with a hat-trick had he taken a first-half penalty in the match, but instead he handed the ball over to Antony, who had won the spot kick when he was fouled in the box by Barnsley goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina. The Brazilian winger made no mistake from 12-yards out as he fired ferociously into the bottom corner of the net for a morale-boosting goal.

Speaking after the win, Ten Hag reflected on the moment and explained why Antony was allowed to take the set-piece ahead of United's designated penalty taker. "Yes, I think so, they are very ambitious," he told reporters when quizzed on his wide options.

"They are very hungry, but they also gave each other the ball. They also give assists and they give each other the opportunity to score a goal. Like the penalty when Antony needs some confidence, then Rashy gives the pen to Antony, which is good in a team. Which they are, with each other they are together."

Rashford now has three goals in his last two matches, having only managed eight last season, and Ten Hag is delighted to see such an influential player back in scoring form.

He added: "The goals not only have to come from Marcus Rashford. We need more goalscorers but I know from my first season here when he scores then it's [easier] for the team when you have a player in your squad who is a guarantee for goals. Then it can make the difference. You can do a lot of things very good between the boxes but football matches are decided in the box.

"I'm not only expecting this from Marcus Rashford, I expect it from others who are in the prime of their career but we also have some others who are high potentials, they are very hungry to score goals. But more important they want to win, to win games and win trophies.

"Confidence is a big part of it, it is not everything, there are also other parts but confidence is a big part and I think Rashford is a big guy. He's scored so many goals, he's one in the list of (current) United goalscorers, he is on top of it, so he is a big guy. But you are as good as your last game and every time you have to prove it. But I have even seen the biggest guys, the biggest football players, when they are not performing and when strikers are not scoring, they drop in confidence, it doesn't matter who."