Erik ten Hag has had a remarkable start to his tenure as Manchester United manager, recently setting a record in the top 5 leagues for the 22/23 season. Antony came off the bench in the second leg of United’s Europa League knockout round play-off against Barcelona, eventually scoring the winner that put the Red Devils through. The Brazilian has been heavily criticized this season despite his short time at the club since joining in the summer of 2022 for £85m, but his goal on Thursday night set a record among teams in Europe’s top 5 leagues. Wout Weghorst was taken off at half-time as Ten Hag was not pleased with the performance of his side, as they went into the break 1-0 down to the Catalan giants. Antony was put on the right wing, with Bruno Fernandes moving back to the #10 position, Rashford being put up front and Sancho moving to the left hand-side. This worked out well as the ex-Ajax winger caused a lot of trouble for the Barcelona back line with his speed, skill and unpredictability. His first time side-foot volley sent Barcelona crashing out of Europe, and it was the 19th goal this season that was scored by a substitute for Manchester United, the most out of any team in Europe’s top 5 leagues, demonstrating ten Hag’s boldness and risk-taking ability in-game, as he does not let the game get away from him and acts quickly if the result is not going his way. As well as Thursday night’s game, Erik ten Hag has made half-time changes against Liverpool, Omonia Nicosia, Wolves, Man City and Leicester, with all of these games resulting in wins for Manchester United. Antony joins Anthony Martial, Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Sancho in coming off the bench to make a difference in games this season. Marcus Rashford has the most goals off the bench than any player in the squad with five, with Anthony Martial close in second with four, followed by two each from Garnacho, Sancho and Fred. Rashford’s most notable substitute appearance was on New Year’s Eve, when he was dropped from the XI against Wolves for being late for a team meeting, yet came on as a substitute and rescued all three points, scoring the sole goal in a 1-0 away win. This statistic shows ten Hag’s determination to win, and how he acts without hesitation to fight for results, a mentality that has not been seen at Manchester United in years.
Iling from Amsterdam is one of the most exciting young managers in football today.
Manchester United fans have been hailing the arrival of Erik ten Hag since he joined the club as manager in May of 2021. His impact has been immediate, as his record of 15 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses in the current season places him among the top five coaches of this season around the world. His most notable achievement to date was in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off against Barcelona. After entering the match as a substitute, Antony scored the winning goal, securing United’s qualifications for the quarter-finals of the tournament.
The success of Erik ten Hag is largely due to his tactical philosophy. He is known for his attacking style of play, and his teams are renowned for their high-tempo, possession-based football. He places great emphasis on the use of attacking transitions, which creates a lot of opportunities for goals. He also encourages his players to take risks and express themselves, a philosophy that appears to have been working well for Manchester United so far.
The Dutch manager has also been praised for his work in the transfer market. He has already overseen the acquisitions of prominent players such as Thiago Alcantara and Erling Haaland, and the club looks set to make more moves in the summer. There is also a sense that Erik ten Hag is building a team that is built for the future, with emphasis on youth development and talented academy players such as Mason Greenwood.
Erik ten Hag has already made an impressive start to his time at Manchester United, and considering his impressive tactical record in the past, there is every reason to be optimistic about the team’s future under his direction. With a squad of talented players and an attacking philosophy, fans can be sure that they are in for some exciting football, both domestically and in Europe, in the coming seasons.
