It has been tough for several managers to get Manchester United back to the heyday of their glory years, and Erik ten Hag is the most recent to try. But can he bring Manchester United the trophies that the supporters long for, and what will he bring to the team? In this article, we will be discussing a detailed analysis of what United needs to do to restore their former greatness.
Discipline of the Squad
The 2022–23 season got off to a dismal start for Ten Hag’s team as they suffered back-to-back losses and failed to score in their first two games (their lone goal against Brighton was an own goal). This suggested the slump from previous seasons was still present.
With the personnel they had on the field, Brentford and Brighton shouldn’t have been such formidable opponents. Although they played Brentford at home, a 4-0 hammering was fairly disheartening for Manchester United supporters. Morale and discipline are frequently the components lacking when the talent is present but the performance is not.
When Ten Hag faced Liverpool, who were also having a difficult start to the season, at home in the third game, he showed he had the nerve. Harry Maguire, the captain, and star player Cristiano Ronaldo were both benched by the Dutch coach, who has been open about wanting to move on to new opportunities.
The end outcome was a shocking 2-1 victory over Liverpool and by far the best performance. Jadon Sancho gave Manchester United the lead before Marcus Rashford’s speed helped them gain a 2-0 advantage. Salah managed to give the other team a point, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Manchester United from earning their first victory of the year.
In the end, Ten Hag’s nerve and wisdom were matched, and he took a crucial decision and got it right. Despite the absence of two significant players, the team’s performance, morale, and discipline were all above average.
There is still potential for improvement, as Ten Hag will aim to reduce fouls (11 compared to Liverpool’s 7) and boost possession from 29%. But the fact that Manchester United won the game with such a low possession percentage and had 5 shots on goal (equal to Liverpool) gives reason for hope moving forward.
The recent triumph will hopefully serve as a turning point in this area. Discipline does include reducing fouls, but it is also present in mental commitment, keeping tuned on from the first kick to the final whistle.
Signings for Manchester United
The likely departure of Ronaldo has received a lot of attention, but Ten Hag’s prospective replacement may be more crucial. He previously shelled out a startling £60–£70 million for Brazilian midfielder Casemiro. However, many believe the asking price is excessive for a player who has reached the age of 30.
The 22-year-old Ajax winger Antony is apparently on the wanted list, but his current team is supposedly holding out for £84 million. Brian Brobbey, an Ajax striker who played while Ten Hag was in command of the Dutch team, is said to have turned down Ten Hag’s advances. Martin Dubravka, the goalie for Newcastle, is another possible target.
Making Changes in the Squad
Even more crucial than acquiring exceptional players is integrating them into a cohesive, driven squad, as evidenced by the improved performance without Ronaldo/Maguire. Thankfully, this appears to have begun and will make adding new players simpler.
Even if the EPL is a step above the Eredivisie, Erik Ten Hag had a lot of success at Ajax, which shows he has the potential to elevate a team. The primary goal is to find a scorer to take Ronaldo’s place, who appears destined to depart.
Although Rashford and Sancho worked well together in the victory over Liverpool, there needs to be more scoring potential upfront given the busy schedule (especially if the team participates in the Champions League again).
At Ajax, Erik Ten Hag played with a high level of vigor, utilizing pressing play and quick passing. If this is to be repeated with Manchester United, this is also an area that requires strengthening due to the loss of multiple outstanding midfielders, not least Paul Pogba.
Whereas Casemiro’s price has drawn some criticism, it at least demonstrates that the potential weakness is recognized and remedial action is being done. A second midfielder would be beneficial. When forming the team for success, resting players (and possessing depth strength in case of injuries) will be crucial due to the high-intensity style and the number of fixtures.
Fate of the Squad
Seven clubs currently have a one in ten chance of finishing in the top four (and becoming eligible to play in the Champions League). Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal, and Chelsea are all shorter than evens.
Newcastle is listed at 6/1, while Manchester United is at 4/1. The Red Devils have only played three games so far, losing two of them shockingly before surprising Liverpool. Can they, therefore, enter the top four? Yes, to answer concisely.
But if Ten Hag can build on the impressive victory over Liverpool or if that win turns out to be a mere fluke will determine whether or not this. The victory was made possible by the great performance and the unmistakably higher mood, and if Ronaldo departs as is largely predicted, it will be crucial to make sure new arrivals fit in and contribute to a rekindled team spirit. But the performance of Manchester United’s rivals also has a significant impact on where they finish.
Chelsea struggled against Leeds, losing handily, and they don’t appear to possess the same cutting edge that teams like Manchester City or Arsenal do. With two lackluster draws and a loss to Manchester United, Liverpool, a team with very short odds to finish in the top 4, has had a worse start than United. As a result, Liverpool may do worse than anticipated. even though most people think they’ll recover.
The finest beginnings have come from Manchester City and Arsenal, and it would be very remarkable if the current champions did not remain in the top 4. Since the Gunners were the only team in the league to win all three of its opening games and have the top goal differential, there is a good likelihood that they will have a successful season. Spurs have also had a strong start, along with Leeds and Brighton, although it is unclear if they will be able to keep up their performance.
The Bottom Line
Given that only Manchester City appears to be guaranteed a berth there, four to one may be a little on the generous side for Manchester United to be top 4. Much will depend on whether the Red Devils’ victory over Liverpool in their third game is a turning point for them or only a blip, a momentary high amid general mediocrity. Only time will tell.
No one can blame Erik ten Hag for having a dull first few months at Old Trafford since Manchester United has had surprising results in each of its first three games, both good and poor. Fans will be hoping the team can continue moving forward now that the gloom of the club’s first losses has been replaced with some justified confidence.
