Manchester United 4-1 Real Betis: Erik ten Hag’s side take command in Europa League last-16 first-leg tie

Manchester United responded to their Anfield humiliation in the best manner possible as they overwhelmed Real Betis at Old Trafford.

No-one will claim one win alone will banish the memory of Sunday’s record 7-0 annihilation by rivals Liverpool in the Premier League.

However, the backing manager Erik ten Hag and his players received from the home supporters suggested recrimination from the stands will not be long lasting.

And Fernandes, condemned by many critics for his display at the weekend, had the satisfaction of not only keeping the captain’s armband but heading home Luke Shaw’s corner from close range after 58 minutes.

The Portuguese ran away to celebrate with his hands to his ears as the United fans chanted ‘Bruno, Bruno’ in his honour.

Ten Hag’s delight after ‘unacceptable’ Anfield debacle

In his programme notes, Ten Hag described the Anfield debacle as ‘unacceptable’ and said he had left his players in no doubt such performances would not be tolerated.

And, in a move that smacked of the Dutchman applying collective responsibility for the loss rather than singling out individuals for blame, he named an unchanged line-up.

For half an hour, all went well.

The hosts dominated as Rashford drove home his 26th goal of a magnificent season in the sixth minute after Fernandes’ cross had been diverted into his path.

Further chances were created – the issue was none of them went in.

Former Manchester City keeper Claudio Bravo twice denied Rashford, Fernandes had a shot blocked and Weghorst’s near-post effort was deflected wide even though he didn’t get a corner.

Betis’ form in La Liga, where they are fifth, suggested they were not as poor as it appeared and Ayoze Perez proved it when he drilled home a low shot from the angle of the penalty area.

Had the on-loan Leicester City forward got a second after he was set up by Juanmi – gifted possession by David de Gea, who rolled a pass straight to him from inside his six-yard box – anxiety might have spread through home ranks.

As it was, Perez’s deflected shot bounced back off a post and United survived – although question marks remain over keeper De Gea, whose contract expires in the summer.

Pellistri shows potential in late show

Even Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini, who barely said anything noteworthy to the media during his three years as Manchester City boss, couldn’t resist a pre-match dig at United after their seven-goal defeat at Liverpool.

As the weeks pass, it will be interesting to see if any individual does pay a price for what unfolded in what many view as the Premier League’s greatest rivalry.

For now though, it can be claimed normal service has resumed.

Antony’s superb curling shot restored the home side’s advantage seven minutes after the restart and Weghorst found the net with a first-time strike eight minutes from time.

The key element of that late effort though was the contribution of Facundo Pellistri.

Good enough to play all three games for Uruguay in Qatar at the World Cup, the 21-year-old was only making his fifth United appearance, all off the bench.

But Pellistri’s contribution for Weghorst’s second United goal suggests he will be called upon more often as the campaign reaches its crucial phase.

Ignoring the safety-first option of a pass back to halfway, he took off on a run past the Betis defence to the byeline where he sent a cross back to Scott McTominay, whose effort was blocked and bounced kindly for Weghorst to finish.

Player of the match

RashfordMarcus Rashford

Real Betis

1. Squad number21Player nameAyoze Pérez

2. Squad number1Player nameBravo

3. Squad number14Player nameWilliam Carvalho

4. Squad number17Player nameJoaquín

5. Squad number5Player nameRodríguez

6. Squad number23Player nameSabaly

7. Squad number16Player namePezzella

8. Squad number7Player nameJuanmi

9. Squad number19Player nameLuiz Felipe

10. Squad number20Player nameAbner

11. Squad number9Player nameIglesias

12. Squad number18Player nameGuardado

13. Squad number11Player nameLuiz Henrique

14. Squad number10Player nameCanales

15. Squad number24Player nameRuibal

16. Squad number12Player nameWillian José