Manchester United fans have had it hard over the past ten years. Not only have they had to witness the decline of the club on and off the pitch, but also the rise of other teams not too far away.
But Erik ten Hag has brought hope back to the hearts of the Manchester United faithful. There were times in the 2022/23 season when the jury was out on the Dutchman. But overall, Ten Hag has done a good job and crucially, he’s brought Champions League football back to Old Trafford.
𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Erik ten Hag appointed as new Manchester United manager 🔴
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 21, 2022
Another season of improvement?
But what are the chances that Ten Hag can continue to improve the team’s performance on the pitch in the new season?
In the latest outright markets for the Premier League, United are the fourth favourite with the bookmakers. United are currently priced at odds of 9/1, for those wanting to place a bet on the Premier League. This puts them way behind City, and also behind Arsenal and Liverpool. The latest football betting online odds also have United out at 16/1 to win the Champions League. This sees the Red Devils behind all of Europe’s elite clubs, as well as their English Premier League rivals.
Living in the shadow of the greatest
When Sir Alex Ferguson bid farewell in 2013, Manchester United fans knew the next few years could be tricky. Not only had the Red Devils lost one of the greatest managers in the history of the game, but they also knew that rivals were rapidly improving in quality.
However, few would have predicted the extent of the difficulties faced over the past decade. Against all expectations, there has been no major domestic success, and the wait for that elusive 21st title continues.
Now, a decade later, there’s finally optimism: good times could be coming back to Old Trafford now that Erik ten Hag has raised standards. Unlike some of his predecessors, he doesn’t seem to be living in the shadow of the great man himself.
Of course, there can be no comparison. But as has been witnessed in the past, Sir Alex’s record can weigh heavily on the shoulders of presiding managers. Maybe it’s with time, or maybe Ten Hag doesn’t feel that pressure, but either way, the shadow of Sir Alex doesn’t seem to be an issue for the Dutchman.
Two of Erik ten Hag’s biggest calls back up the theory that he isn’t intimidated by the thought of upsetting Sir Alex Ferguson. First, he got rid of Ronaldo, and then in the summer, he got rid of David de Gea. These are two players close to Fergie’s heart, but the former Ajax boss didn’t let that influence his decisions.
BREAKING: Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect, the club have confirmed. pic.twitter.com/bgOjchDhYh
— ESPN (@espn) November 22, 2022
The Dutchman has had a good transfer window, and he’s now starting to build a squad based on his footballing philosophy. So maybe it is time for United fans to start to get excited.
However, with that fresh hope comes expectations. If things start to go wrong, the finger of blame can be pointed at Ten Hag. It’s his team now. But as he has shown with his ruthless decisions, he seems well able to handle the pressure.
