Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal has praised Timothy Fosu-Mensah for the role the Dutch-Ghanaian youngster played in preventing Odion Ighalo from scoring on Wednesday night.
Fosu-Mensah, 18, made his first senior United start in the nervy 1-0 win over Watford, playing in central defence alongside Daley Blind.
Fosu-Mensah and Blind were detailed to mark the muscular strike duo of Ighalo and Troy Deeney, and Van Gaal was particularly pleased how they coped.
Although Super Eagles star Ighalo, who has scored 14 league goals this season, had several chances to score and Watford were unlucky to lose, Van Gaal singled out Fosu-Mensah for praise.
“Timothy has saved us several times because of his speed, so I was pleased he was on the pitch. He wanted to go off but I wanted him to stay on,” Van Gaal said. “He had to play against Ighalo, a handful for a centre-half, and he did it fantastically.”
Fosu-Mensah engaged in a 50-50 tackle with Deeney that the Watford captain certainly felt and there was further impressive play when the youngster dispossessed Ighalo in the area when timing was the essence.
Copyright © 2022 Completesports.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Completesports.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Completesports.com.
COMMENTS