Erik ten Hag officially gets his Premier League era at Manchester United started this weekend when his side meets with Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.
Ahead of this new season, we look at everything to know about Manchester United’s last manager and how ten Hag has done so far.
🗯 Erik: "I think we have worked really well, but also tough in the last weeks to get a base."I'm really looking forward to Sunday." 👊#MUFC || #MUNBHA— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 5, 2022
🗯 Erik: "I think we have worked really well, but also tough in the last weeks to get a base."I'm really looking forward to Sunday." 👊#MUFC || #MUNBHA
After hammering rivals Liverpool 4-0 before then beating Melbourne Victory 4-0 and Crystal Palace 3-0, United ended up failing to win their last three preseason games with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, a loss to Atletico Madrid, and a 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano.
Results are irrelevant in preseason, however, and if we are to base things off United’s performances instead, it was a great preseason.
The likes of Fred continued to prove what they could bring to this new-look ten Hag team, while Bruno Fernandes upped his efforts once more, just as the forward players like Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial racked up plenty of goals.
It was a decent summer for United, but despite the positive performances, in truth, the summer should have been all about new signings coming in, and this just hasn’t happened enough.
Ralf Rangnick turned up to United with so much hope and admiration from fans. Fast forward a few months into his tenure, and he had one of the worst records of any recent United manager and after all the talk of a new dawn for the club, he swiftly left for the Austria national team.
Rangnick ended up with a points per match ratio of just 1.45 when things concluded with him in May. He played out 29 games for the Old Trafford side, and with it came just two wins in the club's last 10 games as they beat Norwich City by the narrowest of margins before easing past Brentford 3-0.
If anything, Rangnick only made things worse than they already were at United. Now, ten Hag has even more mess to clean up after a toxic six months under the German’s wing.
Based on United’s squad, ten Hag’s history as a manager already, and the recent signings, the Red Devils should greatly improve this season.
However, even if United are to get better from their own perspective this season, the greatest concern fans should have is the form of other teams, as Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur have all had impressive transfer windows.
Ten Hag will change things, no doubt. The signings of players like Lisandro Martinez feel like the first serious tactical signings the club have made in many years, as the Argentine will finally bring in a different feel to how the team moves.
🔊 "Our aim is to win every game, this is what Manchester United stands for," Erik adds."We have to look forward to the first game and the approach has to be: to win every game. So, let's start Sunday." 🙌#MUFC || #MUNBHA— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 5, 2022
🔊 "Our aim is to win every game, this is what Manchester United stands for," Erik adds."We have to look forward to the first game and the approach has to be: to win every game. So, let's start Sunday." 🙌#MUFC || #MUNBHA
Christian Eriksen is also another fantastic addition to midfield, and as long as the likes of Sancho, Martial and Rashford carry on their form shown in preseason, fans should be hopeful.