Erik ten Hag seems to have plucked a page out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s successful era at Manchester United. The Dutchman, who only arrived in the summer at Old Trafford, has already turned it into the club’s fortress, a feat every manager post Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at the club failed to achieve. It was a common belief during the peak of Sir Alex Ferguson’s time that rival teams would be defeated in the tunnel of the Old Trafford even before the ball was kicked.
In his debut season in charge, Erik ten Hag has led United to 13 straight victories at home in all competitions. Compare that to the previous season, the Red Devils lost 13 of their 26 home games. As of right now, Ten Hag has steered United to an incredible 80% home win percentage in the Premier League which is their greatest output since Fergie’s last year in command.
Erik ten Hag has woke up the sleeping giant Old Trafford
This season under Erik ten Hag, United have amassed an averaged 2.5 points per game at Old Trafford, which is at par with Fergie’s last and title-winning season of 2012/13. Furthermore, a win against Leeds in their next outing at their famous stadium, which would be a 14th straight win at home for the Red Devils, would move them level on points with second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League. However, the Dutchman has warned that they will have a real “Roses” battle against the Lilywhites. He said:
“That was one of our aims this season, to get that back. It was one of our aims as a part of the process to restore Manchester United to the top. Our home form is good. Away we have also good results — but we can still show even more personality and be more convincing.
“That’s the next step we have to make, to have the same personality on the pitch away as we have at home. But I’m really happy with the process at home, it’s great to have that connection at Old Trafford — but when we play away a lot of fans are following us. Nothing changes really. So in that fact, we can grow.”
The atmosphere at Old Trafford is expected to be electrifying as it has been since Erik ten Hag tookover ‘the wheel’, when Leeds visits on Saturday for the first clash of the two sides’ doubleheader against each other before the Red Devils travel to Elland Road on Sunday. Ten Hag has done his homework on the two teams’ historic rivalry, as he continued:
“It’s the match of the Roses, it’s definitely a big game in this part of England. We have Manchester City and Liverpool — but for our fans this means so much. Our players are aware of that and know what to do.”
United will however welcome Leeds without a first team manager since they sacked Jesse Marsch, and Chris Armas, a former coach under Ralf Rangnick during his time at Old Trafford, is now serving as the club’s interim manager. Erik ten Hag has still cautioned that his side must be prepared for a different strategy from Leeds under Armas. The former Ajax coach said:
“When Jesse Marsch was at Leeds it was clear how they played — now it’s possible they change. We will only find out on the pitch but we need good anticipation for that. Better anticipation, for instance, than against Villa. The difference when Emery came in was they had a week to prepare and now they don’t have so much time. We will see — but we need to be proactive.”
However, Erik ten Hag disagrees with the firing of Marsch, claiming that in football, such changes rarely yield instant results and that he believes in a long term building, the one United have entrusted him with. He continued:
“It’s always sad if a manager, a colleague, gets sacked. In general I don’t believe in it, that you sack a manager and get better results, most of the time it doesn’t work. Let the manager finish their work and make a good evaluation. But the pressure is high with decision-makers and they turn. But if you see the facts, most of the time it doesn’t work out well.
“I always think about the long term to build a culture, to build a way to play — to develop players and develop the team. In the long term, also, in terms of contracts and transfer windows, because I think that is the way. I am not here for one year, I am here longer. I see it as a long-term project to build here and how long it is then I have to see. Today you can’t tell.”