Manchester United’s current season has not started as planned, leaving fans and critics questioning the team’s direction under manager Erik ten Hag. Despite some early struggles, the Dutch tactician remains confident and has outlined a bold three-step plan to turn things around. His approach focuses on improving team performance, addressing key weaknesses, and restoring confidence both on and off the pitch. Here’s how Ten Hag aims to revive Manchester United’s season.
1. Reinforcing Defensive Stability
One of Ten Hag’s primary goals is to address Manchester United’s defensive issues. The team has struggled to maintain clean sheets, with lapses in concentration and inconsistent performances from the backline. Ten Hag’s first step is to strengthen defensive stability by refining the tactics and ensuring his players stick to a disciplined structure.
Key players like Lisandro Martínez, Raphael Varane, and Luke Shaw are essential in tightening up the defense. Additionally, Ten Hag has been working closely with new signing André Onana, ensuring the goalkeeper builds a strong rapport with his defenders to reduce communication errors. The aim is for United to concede fewer goals, allowing the team to focus on their offensive strategies without constantly being on the back foot.
2. Revitalizing the Midfield
The second step in Ten Hag’s plan revolves around the midfield, which has been lacking in creativity and control. To fix this, the manager is working on reshaping the midfield to be more dynamic, with a stronger emphasis on ball retention and forward passing. Players like Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Christian Eriksen are key figures, but Ten Hag knows that their performance must improve if United are to compete at the highest level.
United’s midfield has often struggled to dominate games, leading to a disjointed attack. Ten Hag is placing a strong focus on possession-based football, with quicker transitions from defense to attack. His plan includes finding the right balance between creativity and control, allowing the team to create more goal-scoring opportunities while minimizing turnovers in dangerous areas.
3. Reigniting the Attack
The final piece of Ten Hag’s strategy is to unleash Manchester United’s attacking potential. Despite having talented forwards like Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Jadon Sancho, the team has struggled to find consistency in front of goal. Ten Hag’s third step focuses on reigniting the attack, encouraging his forwards to take more risks and be more aggressive in the final third.
Ten Hag has emphasized the importance of high pressing and quick counter-attacks, elements he successfully used at Ajax. His goal is to increase the team’s goal-scoring output by improving the connection between midfielders and attackers. With the arrival of Rasmus Højlund, the manager hopes to add a new dimension to United’s attacking play, combining pace, power, and clinical finishing.
Restoring Confidence and Belief
Beyond these three tactical steps, Ten Hag is also focusing on restoring the team’s confidence. The manager believes that many of the team’s recent struggles are mental, and by fostering a positive and winning mindset, the players will perform better under pressure. He’s committed to building a team that works together, with strong leadership from senior players like Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro guiding the younger talent on the team.
Conclusion
Erik ten Hag’s bold three-part strategy to turn Manchester United’s season around is built on reinforcing defensive stability, revitalizing the midfield, and reigniting the attack. With these key improvements, the Dutch manager hopes to bring the Red Devils back to winning ways and restore the team’s status as a Premier League and European contender. As United fans wait for the results, Ten Hag’s leadership and tactical adjustments are critical to Manchester United’s future success.
