The only way for Erik Ten Hag at Manchester is up

Jose Mourinho, The Special One was the last Manche

January 17, 2023 FootballZz

The only way for Erik Ten Hag at Manchester is up

Jose Mourinho, The Special One was the last Manchester United manager to lead the English giants to any trophy, with the 2017 Europa League title representing the last time United lifted silverware. Under Erik Ten Hag, the Red Devils have the chance to finally end six years of hurt, with victory in this season’s Carabao Cup. United are in the semifinals of the competition and will count Newcastle as the only team that can give them real problems. The Dutchman has revived the fortunes of United in his short stint in charge despite a very difficult start to his tenure at Old Trafford.

Tuesday’s win against Charlton was United’s 8th consecutive victory in all competitions, making it 20 wins in just 27 matches in charge for ten Hag. That feat means he has reached 20 wins faster than any United manager, even the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. Ten Hag had a very terrible start to his Old Trafford career, first having to deal with Cristiano Ronaldo refusing to join the pre-season tour of Asia, and a loss in his first game as United manager, a 1-2 reverse to Brighton. Then United went away to Brentford, losing 4-0 and looking in total disarray.

Since that time, United have slowly progressed under the Dutchman, buying into his philosophy, with summer signings, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen particularly impressive. Ten Hag has also been given the full support of the board in the handling of the Cristiano Ronaldo issue, which saw the club terminate the contract of the club legend after a series of misdemeanours, starting with leaving the pitch after being left on the bench in the game against Tottenham at Old Trafford, before culminating in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, that practically ended every form of relationship with the club.

Under ten Hag, players like Rashford have hit top form again, with the 25-year-old Englishman netting 8 goals in his last 7 matches, and finally showing signs that he can be the player everyone thought he’d be when he broke through under Louis Van Gaal in 2016. United face Man City in the derby on Saturday, a game that will show how far United have come since a 6-3 reverse away at the Etihad Stadium, a game that saw Erling Haaland hit a hat-trick in what was a very one-sided Manchester derby back in October. Should United win, they’d be firmly in the title race, and that’d be a remarkable turnaround for ten Hag and his boys, given the state of the club back in late August.

The only way is up at Old Trafford, and United have Erik ten Hag to thank for it.