After a nightmarish start to the season and a humiliating 6-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester United’s season was looking as bleak as the last one. Erik ten Hag was the odds-on favorite to be the first manager to be sacked in the current Premier League season. Most of the pundits wrote the Dutchman off, and he was assumed to be another failure in a long line of failures that followed Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
But somehow the Dutchman was able to rescue the sinking ship and put an end to the run of horrible results to which Manchester United fans almost became accustomed in the post-Ferguson era. They are currently enjoying a good run of form and are firmly established in the top four of the Premier League table. Manchester United is currently competing in 3 cup competitions, the EFL Cup, FA Cup, and Europa League. With the team having reached the EFL Cup Final and the squad looking in good form, it seems that the trophy drought at Old Trafford could soon be over and Manchester United tickets are selling fast. .
Is Erik ten Hag the real deal or just another false dawn for Manchester United?
The great Manchester United Football Club has been competitive in every competition, during most of its illustrious history. But since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, the club has been fighting for scraps, and after last season, if Manchester United fans were guaranteed a top-four finish and a trophy at the end of this season, most of them would have been delighted with the result and gladly accepted it as a success.
Erik ten Hag has the football club on the right path to success.
But the big question remains: Is he flattering to deceive? Like Ole Solskjaer finishing second in the 2020/21 season, Jose Mourinho winning the Europa League, and Louis Van Gaal managing to win the FA Cup.
So far, so good. The Dutchman has been nothing short of a revolution in Manchester United’s manager’s seat. He is currently at the peak of his managerial career, unlike some of the past managerial appointments, who were either past their prime like Van Gaal and Mourinho, or too inexperienced to handle the immense level of pressure and scrutiny that comes with being the manager of Manchester United FC.
Erik ten Hag is a man with a very keen eye and immaculate attention to detail. These qualities can be seen not only in his team selection and how his players perform on the field, but also when he decided to change the home dugout at Old Trafford Stadium.
The former Ajax manager is also known to be a hard taskmaster. He values discipline more than any other quality. Rules and regulations are set to be followed by every single player. He does not give any levy to anyone.
According to Erik ten Hag’s manual, if a player is late to a meeting, he will not start the next game, even if he is the most in-form player in the squad, i.e. Marcus Rashford. If a player disobeys the manager’s orders and refuses to come on as a substitute, he is axed from the squad, no matter if he is the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo or a youth team player. And if a player fails to meet the fitness standards required to make the squad, he is left out and made to train on his own, like Jadon Sancho.
A much-celebrated example of Ten Hag’s fierce commitment and discipline was on display when he made the whole squad run 13 miles after their lazy and gutless performance against Brentford in a disastrous 4-0 loss.
Impactful Signings- New fan-favorites at Old Trafford
All of Erik ten Hag’s signings have been nothing short of remarkable this season and have made an immediate impact at the Theater of Dreams. The likes of Martinez, Casemiro, Anthony, and Erickson have been pivotal parts of this Manchester United team.
Licha has been immense in the defense and proves to be a reliable partner of the great Frenchman Rafael Varane. Anthony has given much-needed balance to the side on the right side of the pitch. Christian Erickson has brought class and composure to Manchester United’s midfield. Last but not least Casemiro’s commanding presence in the middle of the park has given Manchester united their swagger back.
Getting the best out of most of the existing players
Apart from bringing in quality players, Erik Ten Hag has also managed to reinvigorate the existing players.
Marcus Rashford has been phenomenal under Eric ten Hag and is in the richest vein of form of his career. It seems that every time the young Englishmen steps on the Old Trafford pitch, he is bound to score and some are calling him ‘Rashford the inevitable’. Improvement in Luke Shaw, Dalot, and Bruno Fernandes’ form is also a testament to Erik’s coaching techniques and man management skills.
The former Ajax manager has brought brilliantly in the summer transfer window, improved the existing stars like Rushford, Bruno Fernandez, and Luke Shaw, and also managed to incorporate youngsters like Garnacho and Kobe Manoo, into the first-team squad.
Return of exciting football to the theater of Dreams!
Manchester United tickets are in high demand because they are playing some of the most exciting football their fans have seen after the Sir Alex Ferguson era,
Manchester United has always been known for flying wingers, great goal-scorers, action-pack midfielders, and stalwarts in defense.
The current Manchester United Team has all the ingredients to excite the Old Trafford faithful.
Marcus Rushford is running down the wing and tearing defenses apart. Fernandes and Casemiro are controlling the midfield which reminds the fans of the good old days of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.
The great Frenchman Raphael Varane has found an able and tough partner in Lisandro Martinez.
“The Butcher of Amsterdam” Lisandro Martinez, formerly of Ajax, has completely revitalized Manchester United’s frail and timid defense. The hard-tackling Argentinian has Manchester United fans remembering Nemanja Vidic all over again.
How will the new January transfers fit into the Manchester United squad?
Although the current Manchester United team is playing some of its best football and getting wins on the bounce, but everything is not right with the world; it is not all sunshine and roses. Erik ten Hag and his men have some work to do to bring the glory days back to Manchester United.
The owners are looking to sell the club for a hefty price, and they are not willing to spend big money in the transfer market. So, Manchester United was reduced to buying players in the loan market only during the January transfer window.
The current Manchester United team doesn’t have enough depth, and after the first 11 players, the quality and experience of the players available drops significantly. Things aren’t helped by the fact that Anthony Martial has become a player who gets hurt a lot, and Christian Eriksen got a bad long-term injury blow while playing Reading in the FA Cup.
The midfield maestro will be out for three to four months. The new January signings have big shoes to fill and need to hit the ground running if Manchester United is to have a successful season.
Conclusion
In short, Erik ten Hag has all the intangibles, coaching acumen, and man-management skills to be a success at Manchester United FC, but he will need one hundred percent commitment from the players, support from the board, and the backing of the owners to bring back the glory days at the Theater of Dreams.
