Midfielder’s brace propels United to a much-needed win, providing hope for the team’s future prospects.

Scott McTominay has expressed his belief that Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea can serve as a foundation for future success. The Scottish midfielder scored twice to lead United to an important win, following a week of intense scrutiny after a disappointing defeat to Newcastle.

Manager Erik ten Hag was under pressure following that lacklustre loss, with reports suggesting that he had lost the backing of his players. However, a much-improved performance against Chelsea has lifted the team back into the top six and relieved some of the pressure on the Dutch coach. McTominay, who was pivotal throughout, believes this victory provides the club with a solid starting point to build upon.

“It was a poor performance against Newcastle, honestly. We know we weren’t good enough,” McTominay admitted to Amazon Prime Video. “But to come here and win tonight, it’s something we can build on. We started well and just need to maintain that consistency, which we’ve struggled with recently.”

The midfielder added: “We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We’ve got Bournemouth next, and that will be another tough match. It’s all about taking it one step at a time.”

For the match against Chelsea, ten Hag made the decision to bench Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, opting for Antony and Rasmus Højlund in attack. His team responded with a more energetic display, with Alejandro Garnacho again impressing, providing McTominay with an assist for his second goal.

Despite his double, McTominay could have had even more, having been denied twice in the first half by Chelsea keeper Robert Sánchez and missing a golden chance for a hat-trick with his weaker left foot.

“I enjoy getting into the box,” McTominay said, reflecting on his performance. “Maybe on another night, I could have scored one or two more, but I’m obviously happy with two goals tonight.”

After the match, ten Hag expressed satisfaction with the win, noting that it was important to prove to critics that his team still had the spirit and resolve to bounce back.

“The result was crucial, but you need a good performance to get there,” ten Hag told Amazon Prime. “We’ve had a good week, with two solid games and one disappointing one. The players know when they perform well and when they don’t. They’re not robots, but they play for each other.”

The manager praised the unity in the squad, acknowledging the importance of maintaining the support of the fans. “The crowd is always with us, and we have to give them everything,” he concluded. “In this league, you have to give 100% every time. Anything less is unacceptable.”