Weghorst

An emotional Wout Weghorst struggled to hold back the tears as he ended his Manchester United goal drought against Real Betis on Thursday. Weghorst put United 4 ...

The striker then ran to the corner in jubilant celebration and was soon flocked by his United team-mates, as the emotion of ending his goal drought was clear for all to see. [Sunday's 7-0 thumping at the hands of Liverpool](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/listening-liverpool-celebrations-threats-demotion-how-erik-ten-hag-punished-manchester-united-players-7-0-anfield/bltc21c96204d92763c). The Dutchman hadn't scored for his new club since January 25 but showed adequate predatory instincts late on.

The Manchester United forward was quick to shine the light on team-mate Wout Weghorst after the Dutchman scored his first goal at Old Trafford on Thursday ...

[HAVE YOUR SAY!](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manutd-rashford-weghorst-betis-goal-29420941#comments-wrapper) Has Weghorst been a successful signing for Man Utd so far? The Dutchman's goal came about after Claudio Bravo parried [Scott McTominay's](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/scott-mctominay) strike and he was on hand to respond quickest and guide the ball home. "Now he has his goal [at Old Trafford] and he deserved it." Asked if Weghorst at long last getting on the scoresheet after an 11-game drought meant a lot to the rest of the squad, Rashford replied: "Yes, 100 per cent. [Liverpool](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc). Comment [below](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manutd-rashford-weghorst-betis-goal-29420941#comments-wrapper) At one moment, it looked as if the [Burnely](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/burnley-fc) loanee had been moved to tears. [Bruno Fernandes](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/bruno-fernandes) placed them 3-1 up on the night after Rashford's opener in the sixth minute was cancelled out by Ayoze Perez. [Marcus Rashford](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/marcus-rashford) has revealed the [Manchester United](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/manchester-united-fc) squad were delighted for [Wout Weghorst](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/wout-weghorst) after the [Netherlands inernational](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/netherlands-football-team) bagged his second goal for the club on Thursday night - his first at Old Trafford. [Real Betis](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/real-betis) in the first-leg of their [Europa League](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/europa-league) round-of-16 clash, with Weghorst adding the fourth to ensure United go into the second-leg firmly in the driving seat. "He [Weghorst] was so close many times already and he has created so many chances and goals for others by making space," the United boss explained.

Manchester United loanee is keen and energetic, but despite his goal against Real Betis he is not what his team needs up front.

Weghorst has the ability to be a cult hero in the making and he looks happy to embrace it. Almost immediately prior to Bruno Fernandes heading in United’s third, Weghorst was cautioned after an irate exchange with the referee in relation to a foul on Germán Pezzella. They were battling to match Betis at times but sometimes, domestically and in Europe, that is the way to win matches. The United goalkeeper has been reinvigorated under Ten Hag after being heavily scrutinised for his form in recent years but shipping seven goals at the weekend had affected him and the rest of the United squad. He is relatively surprised to be a United player and is doing everything in his power to look as if he deserves this opportunity. The effort and energy was there in the early stages, although confidence had obviously taken a knock.

Erik was full of praise for his compatriot's unique skills, following Wout's goal against Real Betis.

He is a very fit player, and he recovers very well. He's also bringing good performances as the no.10 in the midfield.” As for the rest, there is the defending part which he is also very good [at].” He is physically capable to play a lot of games. But after the match, Erik ten Hag waxed lyrical about the tall forward's range of qualities. Ten Hag hinted that the 30-year-old might have featured less had the Frenchman been available more often, but again he opted to praise Weghorst, this time for his fitness and powers of recovery.

Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst was on target as Erik ten Hag's side defeated Real Betis in the Europa League.

[Weghorst](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/wout-weghorst) released a statement on social media addressing the controversy, claiming that he was simply trying to annoy Netherlands teammate Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman wheeled away in celebration as it was clear how emotional he was. Despite coming under criticism, attitudes towards the frontman seemed to have shifted after he got on the scoresheet in United's Europa League win over Real Betis on Thursday night. "As a forward he gets joy from scoring goals", he told BT Sport. It was just Weghorst's second goal since signing for United on loan in January, and his first strike at Old Trafford. [United](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-united-fc) player touching the 'This is Anfield' sign in the tunnel before [Erik ten Hag](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/erik-ten-hag)'s men lost at Liverpool on Sunday.

CHRIS WHEELER: Weghorst scored his first goal at Old Trafford - and second overall for United - in the Europa League win over Real Betis on Thursday night.

I tell him of course to link up there, which he is also doing as a high striker – linking up and getting in front of the goal when crosses are coming in, and also the defending part he is very good at it.' 'I think all the time we had a good plan, and it worked until now not always good,' added the United boss. The first of Martial's last 15 starts in all competitions came on March 11, 2021. with the loanee now racking up as many starts for the club as Anthony Martial has in the last two years 'So he showed great personality and character, not only in this game. He certainly lacks the same finesse as more technically adept strikers like Martial.

Wout Weghorst has only netted twice since arriving at Manchester United on loan - including against Real Betis - but Erik ten Hag has pin-pointed how he ...

“So he shows great personality and character, not only in this game. He has intelligence from positions and is a very good anticipator. He's a very fit player and he recovers very well. “I think he's doing well,” added Ten Hag. Praising Weghorst, Ten Hag said: “He's physically capable of playing a lot of games. Despite his lack of goals, Ten Hag praised Weghorst's contribution to United, in particular his link-up play, willingness to press opponents and availability for selection whenever needed.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has explained how Wout Weghorst's fitness levels have helped him become a mainstay in his starting line-ups.

"In this game, he could already have had his goal earlier on. "As you can see he is often in the right position and he fails but he keeps going and so he showed great personality and character," added the United manager. "I expect that he'd play a lot but obviously we have an injury to Anthony Martial so that's the main reason he's playing every game from start to almost finish."