When asked about Pellistri’s chances of playing against Reading this weekend, the boss admitted he has already starting to think about the FA Cup tie.
“After today, I have something in my head,” he said. “But I have to settle this game down and look into my plans and I have to look into Reading and then we have to make a good plan to beat Reading.”
Ten Hag was also quizzed on what Weghorst’s first goal for the club would mean to his fellow Dutchman, with the centre-forward pouncing on the rebound after Antony’s first-half shot was saved by Wayne Hennessey.
“Yeah but, of course, for strikers, it’s always important [to score],” he said. “I think he did a great job in Crystal Palace and in Arsenal, with pressing and targets. With movements, because I think the goal by Bruno in Crystal Palace, he was part of it because he makes the movement to the front post. The goal of Rashford in Arsenal, he was part of it because he made the space for Rashford by dragging the centre-half away.
“But finally, strikers are there to score goals, and when they don’t score, they are not happy. So, it’s important for him, for his confidence as well, that he scores that goal, and I think this is the way, this is one of the ways he can score goals: by being in the box and being present.”