Erik ten Hag can have his work reduce out at Manchester United, there is no two methods about it, however the Dutchman want look no additional than final Saturday’s opponents as a foundation for his rebuild blueprint.
A damning 3-1 defeat to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal put one more dent within the Crimson Devils hopes of a top-four Premier League end and emphasised simply how a lot the tides had modified. For years, the Gunners crammed the function of fallen large, usually discovering themselves ridiculed for his or her failure to duplicate the membership’s glory of yesteryear.
Whereas United have, after all, additionally fallen a way wanting their relentless success underneath Sir Alex Ferguson since 2013, their woes have virtually all the time been overshadowed by Arsenal‘s embarrassments. Nevertheless, this season, and Saturday particularly, signified a sizeable shift – and the Gunners have Arteta to thank for that.
The inexperienced Spaniard has caught by his managerial philosophy, even when times got tough back in late December of 2020, and is steadily guiding Arsenal again in the direction of the highest of the English recreation. Champions League qualification will present a big step in that street to restoration.
Arteta has made it clear that it is his manner or the freeway, culling the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a celebrity striker who evidently lacked the requisite degree of self-discipline. Whereas the choice left some Arsenal supporters – namely Piers Morgan – in shock, the robust method has subsequently served up success, with the membership’s extra harmonious squad edging ever nearer to a Champions League return, regardless of a current triple setback.
And it is an method incoming United supervisor Ten Hag should take inspiration from. The Dutchman is ready to inherit a damaged dressing room, devoid of confidence but overflowing with egos.
Do you continue to suppose Erik ten Hag can be sturdy sufficient to deal with Manchester United’s egos? Have your say in the comments below.
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Picture by Marc Atkins/Getty Photographs)
Whereas the approaching departure of the self-absorbed Paul Pogba will present an added bonus for the 52-year-old, United’s present crop possess numerous gamers who seem more and more intent on shirking duty, pointing fingers at each other and refusing to respect authority. Each Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick have been questioned by the squad this season and, whereas Ten Hag has loved admirable success with Ajax, his lack of expertise at a significant membership in a significant league means he additionally dangers being undermined.
Nevertheless, the Dutchman merely can not stand for such a tradition. Regardless of his relative inexperience, Arteta has laid his marker down at Arsenal and now Ten Hag should comply with swimsuit when he arrives at Outdated Trafford.
It is a level nicely made by none apart from former United nice Paul Scholes. The previous Crimson Satan claimed Ten Hag can be nicely conscious that United are a big step up in his profession, nevertheless a hard-lined, “no nonsense” method, akin to Arteta’s at Arsenal, is strictly what’s required if his Outdated Trafford rebuild is to see any success.
“I believe he’s bought a gaggle of gamers which might be gifted, he simply has to get this group of gamers to imagine in his strategies,” Scholes instructed talkSPORT. “I believe it’s fairly apparent this group of gamers, with the final two managers particularly, haven’t believed in what they’re being coached and haven’t believed in the way in which of taking part in.
“He has to grow to be a troublesome supervisor, slightly bit in the way in which that Arteta has performed at Arsenal. That was a giant rebuilding job, and he’s taken no nonsense. I believe this supervisor needs to be precisely the identical.”
As confirmed by Arsenal, issues could should worsen earlier than they get higher, however with none self-discipline or ruthlessness, Ten Hag will wrestle to encourage enhancements. United’s broken dressing room may be mounted, however it’ll take a no-nonsense method a la Arteta to do precisely that.
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