In the turbulence of the last few weeks, it’d be easy to get lost in the narrative that Erik ten Hag was a complete failure at Manchester United. The 2-1 defeat to West Ham really hammered home the negativity around his tenure.
But after securing two pieces of silverware in two seasons, can the Dutch coach hold his head high, or will he go down as another name in the ever-growing list of failures at this club since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson…
Style of play issues
Ten Hag was brought in from Ajax with the expectation of playing attacking, exciting football. He had built up a reputation for conducting a slick style that was beautiful on the eye. His Ajax side scored goals galore, winning the Eredivisie league title on three occasions.
But it was their sensational run in the 2018/19 Champions League which really drew the attention of the footballing world. Avoiding defeat to Bayern Munich twice in the group stage before beating the holders Real Madrid and Italian giants Juventus was truly special.
Despite losing in the semi finals to Tottenham, Ten Hag had already shocked the world.
So, upon arriving in Manchester, fans were drooling over the idea of United finally playing an attractive, goalscoring style of football again. They’d been starved of this for almost a decade.
This football never made it to Old Trafford.
Ten Hag set up his side in a completely different manor.
He was brought into play a brand of football which he abandoned immediately.
This doesn’t paint the full picture though.
Technical failures at United
At Ajax, a lot of players came through the academy or were efficiently brought in to fit their DNA. The ‘Ajax way’ was to utilise highly technical players who were effective in tight spaces and could play one, two touch football. Their academy players had been practically indoctrinated and moulded into that style of footballer from their childhood.
So, Ten Hag had the players to produce this attacking style.
At Carrington, it was completely different.
The stark contrast wouldn’t have been more apparent to Ten Hag.
While there was a lot of talent in the ranks at United, there wasn’t this delicate batch of lab rats which were ready made to play his football.
This meant he had to adjust.
Fans held out hope that after a few transfer windows he’d get his players in and begin producing his identity.
This never happened.
If anything, United went backwards.
Over £600m was spent in his tenure, with six ex Ajax players brought in under the Dutch coach, yet United failed to produce a consistently attractive brand of football.
In his first year, you could see genuine progress with United beating Barcelona in the Europa League and winning the Carabao Cup.
But after splashing the cash again in his second summer, the football got worse.
You could never predict what United team would turn up. There was flashes of brilliance amongst large periods of uninspiring football.
Fans didn’t expect to win the Premier League straight away, but just wanted to see progress on the pitch, with a consistent attacking style of play.
This was something Ten Hag couldn’t deliver.
Ten Hag’s weak league form
There is no doubt that United’s league form under Ten Hag was nothing short of appalling.
After a third-place finish in his first season, there was hope.
This was quickly shattered the following year. An eighth-place finish in United’s worst ever Premier League season.
Fast forward a few months and after Ten Hag’s sacking, United sat 14th in the Premier League table.
Last season, he had the excuse of an injury crisis.
This was a major factor in fans and the ownership giving him another chance.
Ten Hag could never field his desired squad, having to use countless different centre half partnerships which hindered any team cohesion and consistency he’d try to create.
But with the majority of his squad fit this season, the results were unjustifiable.
INEOS brought in a totally new backroom staff with the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake as assistant coaches but nothing truly changed.
While there was an improvement in shots faced, United still looked vulnerable defensively and struggled to score goals at the other end.
There was no hiding for Ten Hag.
This made his comments in press conferences incredibly alienating for fans.
Ten Hag’s unconvincing press conferences
A key quality of a United manager is their ability to handle the press and their communication to fans.
As Sir Matt Busby famously said: “Football is nothing without fans.”
Keeping the fans onside is a vital part of being a manager but Ten Hag struggled to do this.
When speaking to the media he would consistently make excuses about performances.
Fans want accountability, particularly when it’s the same issues every single week.
But Ten Hag rarely did this and instead he pushed fans away with some baffling comments.
Ten Hag’s battle against the structure at the club
At Ajax, he had an efficient footballing structure behind him. They dealt with a lot of the transfer business, providing him with the players that fit his style of football.
When he got to United however, this was completely different.
INEOS hadn’t become co-owners and the footballing department was a mess.
This meant when he signed his contract at United, Ten Hag pushed for power over transfers to avoid leaving it up to those who’d failed before him.
While in theory this might sound like a good idea, it was quickly evident that it wasn’t.
Ten Hag demanded players he trusted, so United signed a lot of ex Ajax players.
Lisandro Martinez was one of these, and he’s viewed as a massive success but the £81.3m spent on Antony wasn’t.
With David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all failing under this leadership, fans could sympathise with Ten Hag.
Alongside the injury crisis, this was the other big reason why the fans felt Ten Hag should get more time. He deserved a shot under an efficient footballing structure.
He got this chance and he was supplied with a fantastic summer window.
But despite these arrivals, Ten Hag couldn’t turn United’s form around.
So, with the issues of the footballing department before INEOS’ arrival, the structure at the club didn’t help the former Ajax coach, but he still failed to change United’s fortunes under a far better leadership.
Trophies
This is where Ten Hag truly succeeded.
Upon his arrival in Manchester, the Red Devils hadn’t won a trophy in six years.
This was far too long for a club the size of United.
Ten Hag changed this instantly, winning the first piece of silverware he could in the Carabao Cup.
In his second season, he led United to victory in the FA Cup beating local rivals Manchester City in revenge for the previous year’s defeat to the Sky Blues.
His valiant and inspiring speech before the cup final is something that will never be forgotten by fans.
He did struggle to make his mark in the Champions League though, finishing bottom in the group but ultimately he succeeded in bringing trophies back to Old Trafford.
Was Ten Hag a failure at Manchester United?
Yes and no.
He was brought in to win the major trophies like the Premier League and Champions League and this is something he was nowhere near doing.
But after a six year wait, he did add to the club’s trophy cabinet.
He may not have played the best football, or had the most command in press conferences, but he did win two trophies and provided fans with some amazing trips to Wembley.
So when looking back in years time, people will look fondly on Ten Hag’s era at United, because he did what others before him couldn’t, and got United winning silverware again.