Erik ten Hag: Will the Manchester United manager get a second chance at Old Trafford this season?

Erik ten Hag remained as Manchester United manager this summer, having convinced INEOS that he was building something at Old Trafford after a terrible Premier League season was saved by a shock FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May.

It was no secret that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, the new co-owners, had been in talks with potential replacements as they weighed up whether to stay or change their minds with the incumbent boss having bought a 25 per cent stake in the club.

But with their feet under the table, recruitment now underway and a full pre-season campaign to evaluate them, what is the plan for Ten Hag’s Man Utd 2.0 if he is to be the man to realise their ambitions this season?

Could a fake 9 be the missing link?

Gary Neville described United’s out-of-possession structure as “schoolboy-like” towards the end of last season, echoing many others who have criticised the often huge gaps between Manchester United’s lines and, at times, within midfield itself.

Players appeared keen to press, but pursued opponents individually rather than as a team, leaving them exposed with large gaps to overcome; only 20th-placed Sheffield United conceded more shots all season.

Playing Bruno Fernandes as a false nine in the FA Cup final he plugged some of those holes through the extra body of midfield. It coincided with a more disciplined defensive display across the team and saw them deservedly beat Manchester City, despite barely having a quarter of the ball.

That more solid setup continued for much of pre-season. In defeats but strong performances against Liverpool and Arsenal in the United States, the high-pressing style that Ten Hag championed at Ajax was finally on display at his Man Utd side and opponents found it difficult to play through the naturally narrower 4-5-1.

During those games and the pre-season, Jadon Sancho He took on the false nine role and impressed against Rangers and Liverpool, integrating well with Mason Mount and Amad Diallo.

Ten Hag repeated the tactic during last Saturday’s Community Shield against Pep Guardiola’s side, with Fernandes and Set up, whose energy without the ball undoubtedly helps, rotating between them as false nines.

The change has seen attacking playing patterns blossom, with that deeper role helping to link the play in advanced areas rather than the often isolated No.9 we saw so often last season and Mark Rashford with a disconsolate air.

The lineup was as much a pre-determined choice as it was deliberate, as Ten Hag was without a No.9 for much of pre-season with Rasmus Hojlund injured and Joshua Zirkzee only returning in time to be an unused substitute during the Community Shield after a lengthy post-Euro 2024 break.

But management has always had a notable element of randomness, so has Ten Hag found a system to use when Manchester United need more defensive solidarity?

Much depends on Ten Hag’s pursuit of Ugarte

In the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City, Casemiro finally looked like the man United signed two years ago to fill the gap at the base of midfield. But questions remain over whether age and injuries have caught up with the 32-year-old.

After some disappointing performances last season, which drew criticism from Jamie Carragher, he cannot be relied upon to provide the defensive shield Man Utd need if they are to return to the Champions League. United know this, and have made PSG the winners of the ball Manuel Ugarte a lens that fills that role.

As detailed in Nick Wright’s excellent analysis of the Uruguayan, Ugarte’s total of 98 tackles was the most of any player in Ligue 1 last season. He did so despite starting just 21 of 34 games for a team that spent around 66 percent of their time in possession.

Elsewhere, Sofyan Amrabat was drafted in as Casemiro’s replacement last season, but a strong showing in the FA Cup final was not enough to convince Ten Hag to turn his loan from Fiorentina into a permanent deal.

And United have lined up Youssouf Fofana AND Sander Berge as alternative defensive midfielders, should their pursuit of Ugarte come to an end.

But Ugarte is known for his instinctive positioning, something United desperately need after being caught out in transition time and again last season. Without him, or someone like him, they will struggle to strengthen.

Another injury-plagued season?

The first Premier League match hasn’t even started yet, but Ten Hag already has another long injury list after having to deal with so many absences last season.

Hojlund to miss start of season, Luke Shaw will not return before the international break in September due to a calf injury and the new arrival Leny Yoro is ruled out for much of 2024. He was intended to be the defensive rock to tighten things up at the back. His pace would allow United to sit higher up and his ability on the ball would allow him to get through the lines better, something Ten Hag has always wanted to build on.

In his absence, Lysander Martinez AND Harry Maguire become an integral part of the Man Utd defence. They are a capable pair on paper, but only started together once last season as their injury problems caused defensive problems.

Matthijs De Ligt could be the solution in a meeting with Ten Hag – but without that, it’s just Victor Lindelof AND Mr. Evans as a reserve.

With Aaron Wan-Bissaka also leaving for West Ham, the full-back area could be short on numbers, but the arrival of Noussair Mazraoui Additionally, Martinez’s ability to play as an inverted left-back could be a solution in Shaw’s absence.

Are the children okay?

Kobbie Mainoo was undoubtedly the shining light of last season following his impressive success in the academy, and his successor has already staked his claim as the next young player to roll off the assembly line.

Toby Collyer He has been excellent in pre-season, playing alongside Casemiro in a double pivot, and even if the Brazilian were to remain at Old Trafford, his 20-year-old rival in midfield would potentially have already overtaken him in the pecking order.

He is more of a defender than a creative player, but he is very tidy on the ball and completed 100% of his passes against Rangers.

“I always want to pave the way for young players, but they have to earn it,” Ten Hag said after the 2-0 win. “Collyer has earned his opportunity and we’ll see how we can progress.”