When Tottenham Hotspur were doing their farcical managerial search in the summer of 2021, there was one significant detail that seemed quite insignificant at the time. At one point it looked like Spurs had got their new manager. They had interviewed a manager called Erik ten Hag and newspaper outlets were reporting that the Ajax manager would be the new manager of Tottenham. However, it was then revealed that ten Hag had not impressed the Spurs hierarchy in his interview due to what was said to be a ‘lack of charisma’. It didn’t make sense to Spurs fans then, and it doesn’t now, especially as the interview was conducted over Zoom. But anyway, there is certainly one fan base that isn’t complaining. The Old Trafford faithful is certainly pleased that they got their man instead.
How impressive has ten Hag been?
There is no point in looking back on the past, and nobody would blame ten Hag if he was a little upset that he didn’t get the Spurs gig at the time. However, he did not do that. He performed again with Ajax and impressed enough that he was able to make his new home at the Theatre of Dreams. And it is safe to say it has been an amazing start for the Dutchman at our wonderful club. The Carabao Cup has already seen the trophy cabinet refreshed at Old Trafford after a six-year wait. We have all been so excited by what we have seen and how there now seems to be a real camaraderie between the squad. All this before we even discuss the revolutionary Marcus Rashford, and obviously the Cristiano Ronaldo saga. It is not just the results which have made us fall in love with Erik ten Hag, but the way he has restored greatness back to the club.
Over recent years we have had many false dawns. There were some great times under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, no one can deny that, but it never felt long-term. It always felt like he would carry on at the club, simply because he was a club legend. The players didn’t always seem up to it and it felt like the club were playing roulette with signings and tactics. The club wouldn’t have looked out of place in OnlineCasinos, as punters tried to predict the next result. It certainly feels different with ten Hag, as even rivals are beginning to hate us, which shows we are back on top at Old Trafford.
Rejuvenating Marcus Rashford
There has been a lot of disappointment over the last couple of years about the form of Marcus Rashford. A lot of pundits were talking but no one seemed to be able to nail down why he was struggling. There were a lot of rumours about his personal life and whether he could just focus on the game, despite him doing a lot of good outside the game.
But could it have just simply been that the revolving door of managers and uncertainty at Old Trafford meant that Rashford could never get back to where he wanted to be? Was it this that was holding him back? We’ll never really know but one thing is for sure, Marcus Rashford is excelling under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag. So much so, Gareth Southgate is being blamed for England’s defeat to France in the World Cup because he didn’t bring on Rashford in the game. That shows just how highly valued the Man Utd star has become.
No one is bigger than Man Utd – not even Cristiano Ronaldo
No one at Man Utd is bigger than the club. The Red Devils have a claim to be the biggest club in the world in terms of branding, fan base and reputation, but they are definitely in the top three. Only Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona can claim to be bigger but it now feels like United are back.
This is partly down to ten Hag bringing back the Fergie era and culture. Cristiano Ronaldo simply had to leave Man Utd. The fans were sick of it, the pundits were sick of it, the media loved it, but even the players were probably bored of it. In a similar way to Spurs having a Head Coach down in London (oh the irony?) who is constantly saying the players aren’t good enough, Ronaldo was constantly complaining about the squad. However, ten Hag had to cope with one of the greatest players in the world constantly undermining him and not following his tactics. It must have been frustrating for the players to see him never tracking back and there would have been a good bet that Ronaldo would not last the season, particularly after the 4-0 defeat at Brentford.
So after Ronaldo did his interview with Piers Morgan and completely lambasted Man Utd, the club, the players, and the manager, it was only right that he left. His contract was mutually terminated, as it always is, and Ronaldo nearly tarnished his legacy at Old Trafford. Fortunately, for many of the fanbase, we will never forget what he did in his first stint with Man Utd. One of the greatest players ever in the world, let alone at Man Utd.
Discuss Man Utd with our team
Read all of our blogs related to Man Utd on our articles pages. There are discussions on current squads, the Glazers, and future transfers. There is a lot to look forward to for the team and thee future is bright with ten Hag at the helm. So what we can ultimately say is that Tottenham’s loss has certainly been Man Utd’s gain. Thank god for Zoom, which killed Erik ten Hag’s ‘charisma’ according to the Spurs board.
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