Manchester United look to be on the right track under Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman’s side improving with each passing week. The recent 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest was the most convincing victory of the season.
Ten Hag has recovered well from a disastrous start to the campaign and are now one point off Tottenham in fourth place in the Premier League but United have a game in hand.
The two sides also met at Old Trafford earlier this season in what was arguably United’s most complete performance of the season.
Despite United’s positive form and Tottenham’s inconsistency, pundit Graeme Souness has admitted that he still thinks Antonio Conte’s men will finish above the Reds at the end of the season, arguing that United are relying too much on Marcus Rashford’s goals.
“I think Spurs will finish above Manchester United. I expressed reservations about Erik ten Hag on these pages in August. Since then, he has got more out of those players than the previous manager,” Souness wrote in the Daily Mail.
“I still think the Cristiano Ronaldo situation could have been handled better, benefiting the player and manager. He scored 18 league goals last season and, when I look at their squad now, I don’t see goals.
“Marcus Rashford is their top scorer with five and is playing well. But he had a sabbatical for two years. Only he could tell you why. The worry for United is that it could happen again. If he’s the one you’re relying on to get you goals, that feels like a wing and a prayer to me.
“And if Ten Hag is also still relying on Anthony Martial to stand up and be counted, then good luck with that. Three years ago, I said he was in a last-chance saloon to prove he is a United player. He is talented, but an enormous question mark remains.”
SN’s verdict…
Souness’ conservative takes on United are never surprising but the lack of credit given to Ten Hag at this point is quite staggering. The Dutchman has done an excellent job and that’s without taking the turmoil he inherited into consideration.
His signings have been near-flawless and there’s already an identity showing on the pitch – something his predecessors failed in doing over many years.
