Ten Hag level-headed despite Man Utd gem
Erik ten Hag was not getting carried away after another positive Manchester United result on a "perfect night" in the Carabao Cup.
United was reeling after a 3-0 humbling at home to rival Liverpool prior to the international break, but it bounced back by beating Southampton by the same scoreline on Sunday.
Ten Hag's side then swept aside Barnsley for the biggest win of his United tenure, with Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen each scoring twice in a 7-0 triumph.
It appears United's fortunes have changed, but its manager will not rush to make judgement.
"I was not devastated after Liverpool; I'm not now celebrating," Ten Hag said. "We are on a journey, and we will see where we are in May, because then we have to be good and we have to be at our best.
"In the meantime, we have to progress the team."
Of the Barnsley match, though, he said: "For me and for the team, it's the perfect night.
"We did everything we planned to do; we win, next round, scored lots of great goals, entertained the fans, we worked on our game model. So, yeah, we are happy."
Rashford's goals were an obvious highlight, adding to his first of the campaign against Southampton as the United forward suddenly looks to have regained his confidence.
"Confidence is a big part of it," Ten Hag said. "It's not everything – there are also other parts – but confidence is a big part.
"Rashford is a big guy, he's scored so many goals. In the list of United goalscorers, he's at the top of it. So, he's a big guy, but you're as good as your last game, and every time you have to prove it.
"I have seen the biggest guys, the biggest football players when they are not performing, when the strikers are not scoring, and they drop in confidence. It doesn't matter who."
