It’s been a decade of ups and downs for Manchester United. Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as the greatest manager in history (sorry, City fans, but it’s true), the Old Trafford powers that be just haven’t seemed to find a rhythm, much less that bit of magic only Fergie possessed.
I won’t get into ownership or Ed Woodward–that’s a tangent for another day–but it’s no secret that the club just hasn’t seemed to have a plan for how to run things in a post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. The managerial appointments, transfer signings, and focus on the sponsorship/branding side of the club belies a complete absence of any semblance of a strategy for shaping what the United Way was going to look like moving forward.
The club went from a manager in over his head in David Moyes to a manager whose football was not…enthralling, for lack of a better word, in Louis van Gaal to a manager whose tactics were behind the times in Jose Mourinho to a manager who was United in his veins, but didn’t quite have the personality needed for the job in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. United’s signings reflected this inconsistent path, as well, which resulted in a mix of profiles, personalities, and traits from five different managers–a Frankenstein’s monster of a squad. After Ole, United needed to get the next manager appointment spot on. They needed a man who had the tactics, coaching skills, and personality to confidently lead Manchester United on a new path and usher in a new era. Enter Erik ten Hag.
Fresh off a successful stint at Ajax, where he returned the Dutch club to its former glory, Erik ten Hag took hold of a struggling United ahead of the 2022/23 season and dragged the Reds to a third place finish and a League Cup in his first season in England. He also equaled Ferguson’s record of home wins in a season, accumulated the most wins in his first 50 matches than any other United manager, and is the first United manager since Fergie to win multiple Manager of the Month awards in a season. It was an impressive debut season for the Dutchman and far outweighed anyone’s expectations, but Ten Hag will be the first one to get right back to work and prepare for the next season. He knows that, despite the successes of last season, there is still much room for improvement in every area, which means there’s much work to be done if United are to keep the momentum going. This leads us to our big question: what does a successful 23/24 season look like for Manchester United?
Foundation has been laid
If success raises expectations, then Ten Hag has to keep the momentum going. He’s already shown what he can do with the highly-criticised squad he inherited and the highly-criticised players he signed–a centre-back who is “too small”, a “steady-eddie” defensive midfielder, a 30-year-old who nearly died of a heart attack less than two years prior, and winger who should have cost €30 million less than United paid had they acted more quickly in the market. Add to that the Dutchman’s delicate navigation of Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit and Jadon Sancho’s personal struggles, and you might say what Ten Hag achieved last season was nothing short of miraculous. These are the foundations, though, for what Ten Hag is building. Now he needs to build the framework.
Ten Hag has raised the standards at United and, therefore, has placed pressure on himself and his players to not only replicate last season’s performances, but improve upon them. If the expectation when he arrived last summer was for him to start to implement a recognisable system and pattern of play, then his measurable success in that regard should also instil within the United fanbase considerable hope heading into the season. The Carabao Cup and an FA Cup final was a brilliant start, but more silverware is expected–even required–if next season is to be considered a success.
Summer business is key
Ten Hag needed a mix of experience and familiar faces last summer to kickstart his United rebuild and ensure the process hit the ground running. Coupled with players like Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, and Raphaël Varane, the signings of Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Antony, and Christian Eriksen were a breath of fresh air–Casemiro and Martinez, in particular, returning a bit of fight to Old Trafford that’s been sorely missed in recent years. This summer, however, has the potential to be even more vital to Ten Hag. Now that the Dutchman has had a year to steady the ship, United supporters were eager to see how he was rewarded by who he would target and how the club backed him in the summer transfer window.
Most fans would have told you with 100% certainty that a striker was the priority, with a goalkeeper next on the list (though, not far below, depending on who you asked), but Ten Hag opted to bring in a player he’s admired for several years in Mason Mount and a player with whom he’s worked in the past in André Onana, who replaces the outgoing David de Gea. If ever there were two signings who served as clear indicators of a manager’s intentions, it would be these two. With Mount, ten Hag has an energetic playmaker with a good shot and suits ten Hag’s high press, while Onana’s ability on the ball is unparalleled and pretty much makes him another outfield player when United need to build out from the back. Obviously, neither are strikers, but that need looks to be wrapped up soon with the impending arrival of Atalanta striker, Rasmus Højlund, whose pace, strength, and energy are exactly what ten Hag looks for in a striker.
It can be argued that outgoing players are also a major indicator of ten Hag’s mindset when it comes to his plans for United. De Gea left for nothing after drawn out contract negotiations, while Anthony Elanga’s and Alex Telles’ time at Old Trafford ended with moves to Nottingham Forest and Al Nassr, respectively. The potential departures of Fred, Eric Bailly, Dean Henderson, Scott McTominay, and ex-captain Harry Maguire could free up more room in the wage bill and would also provide funds for a masterstroke in the form of Sofyan Amrabat. Some may call Ten Hag ruthless as he swings the axe on player contracts at Old Trafford, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. For far too long, United have held onto players who just weren’t good enough, renewing their contracts and boosting wages in a misguided attempt to preserve or even somehow improve their market value, rather than lose them for free. This practice, however, has led to United having one of the highest wage bills in football and struggling to sell players who couldn’t cut it. Ten Hag took de Gea’s new contract off the table, reduced Maguire’s minutes and stripped him of the armband, and risked drawing the ire of United supporters by letting go of academy graduates Elanga, Ethan Laird, Zidane Iqbal, and Di-Shon Bernard. He knows that each player he signs or sells has the potential to make or break his tenure. If a player doesn’t suit his system and can’t adapt, then he’s a hindrance on the pitch and will be allowed to leave. Ten Hag may be ruthless, but he operates as such for the good of Manchester United.
Keeping pace with rivals
If clubs competing for the same league as you are strengthening their squad, then you have to strengthen yours, as well, if you hope to challenge them and avoid being left behind. The refusal of United’s owners over the years to contribute their own funds for the cause, along with United’s historically farcical inability to sell players, have left the transfer budget a bit thin, though. United may have hoped for lightning in a bottle from the appointments of Mourinho or Van Gaal, but relying on past success alone, without bolstering it with full backing (which is how the owners took over United in the first place) hasn’t been as fruitful as they might have hoped. Ferguson was an outlier in that he could get blood from a stone, and as good a manager as Ten Hag is, the money in the modern game requires more than just tactical nous and man management to achieve success.
Yes, United have spent money on players, but their gross spend is right up there with everyone else. In fact, Arsenal have spent more than United in the last three years without much to show for it and Chelsea’s spending spree under new owner Todd Boehly hasn’t paid off. Every top club spends money. It’s just a fact. It’s the net spend that rivals like to bring up when it suits their argument, though, which reflects United’s poor track record of selling players.
Liverpool have nearly completely rebuilt their midfield, Manchester City bought Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea to replace Ilkay Gundogan and could potentially sign RB Leipzig star centre-back Josko Gvardiol, and Arsenal don’t look like letting up anytime soon after spending big on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber. Mega-rich Newcastle United aren’t slowing down at all, surprising everyone with the addition of Sandro Tonali and rescuing Harvey Barnes from relegated life at Leicester City. Brighton and Aston Villa qualifying for European competition might have been the shock of the season, too, and both clubs look a threat heading into next season. After missing out on Kim Min-jae, Manchester United simply can’t afford any further slip-ups or hesitations this summer if they want to mount a title challenge or compete for silverware, especially while the Saudi league strengthens United’s league rivals by offering big money for the Premier League’s star players. The task is even more challenging when you consider the caliber of players United’s title rivals can boast. Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane–these players are still at their respective clubs and are still match-winners on any given day. United need to bring in and develop match-winners of their own if they hope to keep up with the competition.
Manchester United should always be competing
Rival fans will argue, “Well, you’re Manchester United. You should be doing better.” It goes without saying that the expectation and pressure to win is ever-present at Manchester United. However, the state of the club when Ten Hag took over and the amount of time it takes to rebuild need to be taken into context. That being said, silverware is the standard at United and last year’s FA Cup final and Carabao Cup–though the first trophy United have lifted since 2017–can’t be seen as the goal, but merely a first step towards the goal. A sign that United is on the right path. Ten years without a Premier League title is just not good enough for a club of United’s status and prestige. I mean, there are young fans–heck, young players even–who are too young to have seen United’s dominance and have grown up in a Manchester City/Chelsea era. Not okay.
Trophies and tactics and transfers are crucial when it comes to success, but perhaps the most important change we’ve seen under Ten Hag has been the shift in mentality. Not only has the Dutchman identified and brought in players who fight for the badge, their teammates, and the fans, but he’s also improved the mentality of several players who were already at the club. Luke Shaw looked like captain’s material last season, Marcus Rashford had best season yet in a United shirt, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has upped his game, Victor Lindelof impressed, and even Fred provided a few moments of quality higher up the pitch. Ten Hag also picked up on something United fans have pointed out and made a huge change in dropping Harry Maguire as captain and giving the armband to Bruno Fernandes, who has always been a passionate, vocal leader on the pitch. Criticise Bruno’s in-game petulance all you want, but the guy is a leader and a class player. The responsibility of the armband might also teach the Portuguese magnifico (you’re singing the song now, aren’t you?) to redirect and fine-tune that emotion into something less reactionary and whiny and, instead, something more responsive and constructive.
What does all this long-winded talk mean, though, as far as what a successful 23/24 season looks like for Manchester United is concerned? Third place in the League, just a Carabao Cup, and dropping out of Europe before the quarter-finals won’t be good enough and would be a step backwards by all accounts. I’m not saying it would be enough to sack Ten Hag, but it would raise questions and put his job in a fragile position. Taking into consideration last season’s results, the money spent on Ten Hag’s signings, and the reestablished Manchester United standards, you’d have to expect–even demand–a more serious title challenge in the league, at least a domestic cup, and a deep Champions League run. This isn’t unreasonable or unrealistic, given what Ten Hag has already accomplished and with a few stellar signings completed and another month of the transfer window left to work a bit of magic, we could all be wondering why we set the bar that low by the time the 23/24 season is done and dusted.
If there’s one thing that’s for certain so far, it’s that Erik ten Hag has given Manchester United fans excitement, confidence, and hope. Now it’s up to him and his players to give the fans trophies and success. If last season is anything to go on, though, I feel good about United’s chances next season.
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