Football Foyer

As the new season approaches, the pressure on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is palpable. After a season of disappointing results in the league, topped off by an unforgettable FA Cup Final victory against Manchester City, loftier expectations will now be expected at Old Trafford. The Dutch manager, now entering his third season with the club, faces the daunting task of transforming United from an underperforming team flirting with the occasional success to one that consistently challenges for top honours through a defined style of play.

The Weight of Expectations

Manchester United is a club steeped in history, with fans who are accustomed to success. Following several years of underwhelming performances and a revolving door of managers since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, supporters are desperate for a return to the glory days.

Ten Hag’s first season heralded a third-place finish in the Premier League, and the Carabao Cup triumph offered a glimpse of what could be, but it also raised expectations. The United faithful are rightly not expected to be satisfied with just a top-four finish—they want to see their team consistently competing for the Premier League title and making deep runs in Europe.

Erik ten Hag though clearly understands the pressure that comes with managing a club of United’s stature. Having enjoyed success at Ajax, where he won multiple Eredivisie titles and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, Ten Hag knows what it takes to build a winning team. However, replicating that success in the Premier League has been a different challenge altogether. The competition is constantly fierce from one week to the next, and the margin for error is slim. He is now reaching that do-or-die third season where it either clicks or falls apart at the seams as it so nearly did at various points last season.

Ineos’ ambitious executive structure

The new executive structure at Old Trafford represents a significant shift following Ineos’ takeover of football operations at Manchester United.

Omar Berrada has crossed the divide from his role at Manchester City to become the club’s Chief Executive, bringing with him a wealth of experience in managing high-profile football operations. Jason Wilcox, previously at Southampton and also Manchester City, steps in as Technical Director, to lead the club’s footballing strategies and oversee player development.

Dan Ashworth, whose move from Newcastle was notably protracted, now serves as Director of Football, a role crucial for bridging the gap between the coaching staff and the executive board. Christopher Vivell, previously of Chelsea and RB Leipzig, joins as Head of Recruitment, focusing on enhancing United’s scouting and acquisition processes.

Overseeing the entire structure on behalf of Sir Jim Ratcliffe is Sir Dave Brailsford, renowned for his success iby looking for marginal gains. This new leadership team aims to launch a new era at Manchester United, aligning vision with excellence to propel the club back to the top of English and European football.

New support staff

Manchester United’s coaching staff has undergone notable changes ahead of the new season, with new faces joining Erik ten Hag’s backroom team.

The arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy and René Hake as first-team coaches is particularly exciting. Van Nistelrooy, a club legend and former prolific striker, brings invaluable experience and a growing profile following his stint at PSV Eindhoven. While René Hake, known for his tactical acumen from his previous posts in Holland, will aim to bolster the team’s defensive strategies.

Andreas Georgson joins as the set-piece coach, promising to enhance United’s proficiency in dead-ball situations, an area that has been a focus for improvement for some time. Additionally, Jelle ten Rouwelaar takes on the role of goalkeeping coach, aiming to further develop the skills of André Onana and his peers.

These new appointments come in the wake of the departures of Michell van der Gaag, Benni McCarthy, and Steve McClaren. Van der Gaag’s exit follows a season of poor defensive performances, and McClaren’s exit marks the end of his role in supporting Ten Hag’s tactical vision.

The revamped coaching staff represents a strategic move by Ineos to back-up Ten Hag with some of the finest support staff available. They will hope this helps to refine his team’s performance and drive Manchester United towards greater success this season.

Transfer Market Movements

The summer transfer window has been a more defined one for Manchester United, although still with an apparent focus on Ajax and Dutch connections.

The manager has previously shown a clear preference for players he has known connections with, particularly from his successful Ajax tenure. In his first season, he brought in Lisandro Martnez and Antony from Ajax and tried his best to persuade Frankie de Jong to join from Barcelona. Ahead of the 2023-24 season, the arrival of André Onana from Inter Milan, another former Ajax player, addressed a key area that needed improvement. Onana was seen as the long-term replacement for David de Gea; however, his performances at times last season suggested otherwise.

This season, the signings of Mathijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich, both of whom played under Ten Hag at Ajax, further highlight the manager’s strategy of building a squad with players familiar with his methods and tactical demands. They, along with Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, stick to the apparent template, with only the already injured Lenny Yoro the exception as I write this.

However, it’s obvious that these signings are not just about the Dutch connection; they are calculated moves to bring in players who will help Ten Hag create a high-pressing, possession-based style of play. The Dutchman clearly values the tactical discipline and understanding these former Ajax players bring, which he obviously believes is crucial for implementing his vision at United. Dan Ashworth and co. also seem to be backing Ten Hag on this point.

Youth Development: A Key Ten Hag Strength

Beyond transfers, Ten Hag’s reputation as a developer of young talent is another significant asset for Manchester United. Last season, he made a notable impact on the careers of young talents like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Garnacho, in particular, emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League, with his pace, flair, and goal-scoring ability earning him a regular spot in the first team. Mainoo also saw his stock rise exponentially, topped off by a Cup Final winner against Manchester City, with the young midfielder showing maturity beyond his years in several key appearances.

Ten Hag’s track record at Ajax, where he helped nurture the talents of Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, and Donny van de Beek, suggests that he can turn promising youngsters into world-class players.

At United, the next wave of talent, including newly promoted to the first team Toby Collyer, Harry Amass, and Ethan Wheatley, and upcoming academy prospects like Shea Lacey and Amir Ibragimov, will be keen to follow in Garnacho and Mainoo’s footsteps.

With Ten Hag’s guidance, these players could well be the next to break into the first team, adding youthful vigour, depth, and dynamism to the squad.

Tactical Evolution

Ten Hag’s tactical approach will be under scrutiny this season. In his first season, we saw glimpses of his philosophy, but inconsistencies in performances suggested that the squad was still getting to grips with his ideas.

Last season proved a real chore at times, with no thanks to a whole host of injuries to important players, but there will be no such excuses this season. The manager has had another preseason to work with his players, albeit with the Euros impairing those available to him, and the expectation is that United will play with greater cohesion and consistency.

One area that Ten Hag will be keen to improve is the team’s performance against the top sides. While United had some notable victories last season, such as the FA Cup wins against Liverpool and Manchester City, they’ve also suffered a number of heavy league defeats since Ten Haag’s arrival.

If United are to improve and mount a serious title challenge, they will need to be more competitive in these crucial fixtures while showing more grit, determination, and consistency in those fixtures they’re expected to win.

Looking ahead

The upcoming season is shaping up to be a defining one for Erik ten Hag and Manchester United. The pressure to deliver from the new Ineos structure above will be immense, and anything less than an improved showing in the league, a clear and more dynamic philosophy, and another cup win will be seen as a disappointment.

With a further strengthened squad, fewer injuries if lucky, a clear tactical vision, and the weight of expectation on his shoulders, Ten Hag must now prove that he is the right man to lead Manchester United back to the pinnacle of English and European football.

The countdown to kick-off against Fulham on Friday night has begun, and all eyes are on Old Trafford.