Paul Ince has been impressed by Erik ten Hag’s work to date and can see parallels between Manchester United’s revival under Sir Alex Ferguson in the early 1990s.
Erik ten Hag has a huge job on his hands at Manchester United to bring us back to previous heights. Fans want to see the team competing for the Premier League every season and in with a chance of going all the way in Europe, but we have some way to go until that is achievable.
If Ten Hag is a success at Old Trafford, like we think he will, it is bound to be seen as an renaissance.
Ince was part of United’s midfielder when Ferguson won the first of his 38 trophies as manager at Old Trafford. It came when the Reds beat Crystal Palace in a replayed FA Cup final in 1990. What followed as a period of domestic dominance and we have Ferguson to thank for that.
Reading, who are currently managed by Ince, travel to Old Trafford on Saturday night for the FA Cup fourth-round. They face a United side enjoying a run of 10 wins from 12 games in all competitions.
“The important thing for us in 1990 was winning the FA Cup,” Ince told reporters ahead of the match, as quoted by yahoo Sports. “Man United have to be seen to be winning trophies. That year I think we finished 13th in the league. To win an FA Cup was great.
“The second year, when we went to Rotterdam and beat Barcelona in the Cup-Winners’ Cup, the next pre-season after winning that there was a different feel about the changing room and the club. There was a belief that we could win the Premier League.
“With previous Man United teams (before Ten Hag), teams were going to Old Trafford believing they could get something.
“What Ten Hag’s doing now, he’s given this team a presence. They’re a lot tougher now than what they have been for four or five years. Were they a soft touch? Probably, yeah. But I sense that he’s building something here.”
We certainly hope so!
