Manchester United Thrashes Barnsley 7-0 in Carabao Cup, Erik Ten Hag Hails ‘Perfect Night’
Erik ten Hag praised a “perfect night” after Manchester United delivered a commanding 7-0 victory over League One side Barnsley in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford. The dominant performance, spearheaded by Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Christian Eriksen, marked the biggest win of Ten Hag’s tenure at United.
Rashford and Garnacho both netted twice, with Eriksen adding two late goals, and Antony scoring from the penalty spot to cap off an unforgettable evening. The result was United’s largest margin of victory since their 9-0 thrashing of Southampton in February 2021 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Reflecting on the game, Ten Hag expressed his satisfaction: “Not for me, but for the team, this is the perfect night. I think we could do everything that we planned to do; how we win, advance to the next round, score some great goals, and entertain the fans. We worked on our game model, so we are happy.”
The win was particularly significant as it saw Ten Hag rotate his squad, making eight changes from the team that had beaten Southampton 3-0 in the Premier League on Saturday. Rashford was one of the few players to retain his spot, and he followed up his weekend goal with a brace. It was the first time since February 2023 that the England forward had scored more than one goal in a game.
“When Marcus is scoring, it’s more comfortable for the team,” Ten Hag said. “Football matches are decided in the box, and having a player who guarantees goals makes the difference.”
United’s attacking display was relentless, with Antony, who has struggled for form, finding the net from the penalty spot. Rashford, normally the penalty taker, selflessly handed the opportunity to his Brazilian teammate, in a gesture that highlighted the team spirit Ten Hag is cultivating.
“They are ambitious, hungry, and what I like is that they give each other the ball,” Ten Hag noted. “Confidence is a big part of it. Rashford is a big player, but he knows that every game is a new challenge.”
Alejandro Garnacho also shone, scoring twice and providing two assists. His pace and creativity caused constant problems for Barnsley’s defense. The Argentine winger, having been left on the bench during the Southampton match, made his presence felt with clinical finishes.
Eriksen, who completed the rout with two goals in quick succession towards the end of the game, was another standout performer. The Danish midfielder had not scored for over a year but was instrumental in United’s midfield control, orchestrating play with precision and vision.
Ten Hag was quick to temper any talk of celebration, reminding everyone that the journey is long: “I wasn’t devastated after the Liverpool defeat, and I am not celebrating now. We are on a journey, and we will see where we are in May. We must keep progressing as a team and work on all stages of our game.”
For Barnsley, it was a tough night. The League One side, who are currently seventh in their division, struggled to contain United’s rampant attack. Manager Darrell Clarke, a lifelong Manchester United fan, admitted that the occasion may have overwhelmed his players. “We were miles off the standards tonight,” Clarke said. “We have to understand what it takes to be a top player, and we didn’t show that tonight.”
With this emphatic win, Manchester United moves confidently into the Carabao Cup fourth round. Attention now shifts back to the Premier League, where they face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
As Ten Hag emphasized, while this result provides a morale boost, tougher challenges lie ahead, and the squad will need to maintain their focus if they are to continue their momentum. The manager’s message was clear: “We have a lot of speed and dynamic players, but we have to work even harder to be at our best when it truly matters.”