How Will Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United Look Like?
Manchester United, once a byword for football success, have been stuck in the also-ran’s category for years now. But with Erik Ten Hag recently appointed to take over next season, can they finally turn it around and become winners again?
Fergie’s Long Shadow
It seems like another age, but the era of Sir Alex Ferguson’s long tenure as the manager of the Red Devils continues to loom over the club as an ever-present reminder of what was and what today is not. For more than a quarter of a century, Sir Alex led Manchester United to become the most successful club in the Premier League, claiming doubles, trebles, and twice winning the Champions League into the bargain. Between 1993 and 2013 (the year he retired) the club won 13 EPL titles and was clearly the dominant force in English football. But that was the last time Manchester United won the domestic title. Between the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup, only the latter has been won since their legendary manager departed the stage, and that was just once (2015-16).
Something that was notable about Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign was its longevity. By contrast, in the nine years since he’s been gone the team are now onto their fifth permanent manager in the form of the recently appointed Erik Ten Hag. But can he turn the club around?
Betting on Success
Manchester United are keenly watched by a plethora of fans all around the world, from their native England to the United States, Australia to South Africa. The latter fans are often keen sports bettors, and many enjoy playing online at the best South African online casinos. Players can choose from the finest casinos with a staggering variety of slots and table games, and sometimes even virtual racing and football simulation games, and take advantage of various promotions to make the best possible start. During the off-season, or if you fancy a mini-session during halftime, many a footie fan has fun with a flutter at an online casino.
Erik Ten Hag
At the time of writing, Erik Ten Hag remains the coach of major Dutch side Ajax, with his appointment to lead Manchester United coming into effect at the start of next season. Originally a player, Ten Hag moved into the managerial sphere a decade after he stopped playing. He was with Go Ahead Eagles, Bayern Munich II (the reserve team), and Utrecht up until 2017 when he started managing Ajax.
In 2019, Ten Hag’s Ajax team made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in over two decades. Not only a statistically pleasing result, it was achieved in some style by thrashing Real Madrid (then the holders of the trophy) 4-1 in their own stadium. The team narrowly failed to progress, drawing with Spurs 3-3 but losing on away goals. That same year, Ajax won the KNVB Cup and the Eredivisie for the glory of a double. And, in 2021, his side won the KNVB Cup again. Come April 2022, Erik Ten Hag was appointed to lead Manchester United from the start of the next season until June 2025.
How Manchester United has fared Recently
In the 1990s and early 2000s it was generally a question of how much silverware Manchester United would win rather than if they would win any. But since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, they have had a single significant success (one FA Cup) and have never been in contention for the domestic title. In 2022, although there’s a reasonable shot of Europa League qualification, the Champions League is almost certainly out of reach. With a game in hand, at the time of writing the club is 26 points off league leaders Manchester City.
During the last few years some big-name managers have come, tried their best to turn around Manchester United’s fortunes, and failed. Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho could not do it, and ex-player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also failed. Ten Hag has done well with Ajax, but that club and its league is not on a par with Manchester United and the English Premier League, which will provide a far sterner test. There are some serious problems to address.
The Superstar Problem
Having as prolific a scorer as Cristiano Ronaldo on your team might not seem like a problem, but when this superstar and Harry Maguire are not on the best of terms it doesn’t make success more likely. A great manager once side he doesn’t always pick the best players but he did always pick the best team. Even if you’ve got beautiful singers, if they’re not singing from the same hymn sheet it’s going to sound a discordant mess. In the past, Sir Alex knew this very well and was never afraid to make plain that no player was bigger than the club.
A more straightforward, but perhaps even more serious, problem is that numerous important players are soon out of contract and may end up leaving. Paul Pogba is just one of several, and the last thing Ten Hag will want is to turn up only to find many of his best players have gone. Marcus Rashford’s long term future at the club is also in doubt, and nothing is quite so persuasive for prospective players as the serious chance of winning titles and trophies.
It’s somewhat ironic that Sir Alex Ferguson, who was given time to get going, is the benchmark but many of his successors have not been given the same degree of patience. It’s fair to say the game has changed in the decades that have passed, but clubs with a single manager over a long period (Arsene Wenger also springs to mind) can end up achieving a lot. Erik Ten Hag may or may not have the managerial skill to turn the club around but he will need time to give it a serious attempt. If Manchester United wants to achieve success once more they need, sooner or later, to get off the managerial merry-go-round and give someone their backing for the long term. Interim boss Ralf Rangnick himself has highlighted the importance of continuity to success.
First Order of Business
In addition to trying to smooth the Ronaldo-Maguire relationship and persuading skilled players to stay, Ten Hag has to recruit some more talent. Defence in particular is one area that needs improving. At the time of writing, Manchester United have conceded 51 goals, the worst record in the top eight clubs by some margin, and the reason why their goal difference is just barely positive (2).
In addition to fresh blood, making the team gel together (far easier said than done) will be of critical importance if Manchester United want to finally throw off the unwanted mantle of also-rans and become contenders for league and tournament success once again. Sorting out the dressing room attitude and the relationship between players and manager is critical, which means Ten Hag is going to have to be determined and resolute from the start.
Erik Ten Hag has a substantial challenge to overcome at Manchester United, and while none of his immediate predecessors have managed it perhaps the Dutchman can.
