Manchester United: does Erik ten Hag have the ‘golden touch’?
Prevailing mood at Old Trafford was reminiscent of ‘how it felt during the golden years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign’
It’s strange to think that, just weeks ago, Manchester United were widely held to be a club in “crisis”, said Henry Winter in The Times. Their Premier League campaign began with two consecutive defeats – the second an abject 4-0 drubbing by Brentford – and the entire squad looked desperately short of confidence. Erik ten Hag, the club’s new manager, admitted that reviving their fortunes promised to be one “hell of a job”.
It’s certainly not one he wasted any time getting stuck into, said Chris Wheeler in the Daily Mail. United’s fortunes have revived dramatically from the “carnage” of a month ago: they now stand fifth in the Premier League, having won four matches in a row. Last Sunday, they beat league leaders Arsenal 3-1 at home, shattering their 100% record. Suddenly, everything the former Ajax boss touches seems to be “turning to gold”.
He has begun his tenure with a flurry of transfers, drawing on United’s “financial muscle” to spend £229m in the transfer window, said Laurie Whitwell on The Athletic. And already, that outlay seems more than justified. United’s previously shaky central defence has been bolstered by the arrival of Lisandro Martínez; Tyrell Malacia has replaced the out-of-form Luke Shaw at left back; Christian Eriksen – signed from Brentford on a free transfer – has added considerable clout to midfield.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Last Sunday, it was the turn of United’s most expensive signing, the Brazilian winger Antony, who cost £85m, to make his debut, said Barney Ronay in The Guardian. His impact was near-instantaneous. The 22-year-old opened the scoring after 35 minutes with a skilfully angled left-footed shot, then delighted the fans further with an extravagant “four-stage celebration” that culminated in a “kind of growling-lion manoeuvre into the camera”. Watching him play, it’s clear, “will be fun”.
But in the end, this “potentially momentous victory” was all about a player who predates ten Hag’s arrival, said Jason Burt in The Daily Telegraph. As recently as the start of the season, Marcus Rashford seemed a pale shadow of the player who used to inspire terror in defenders. Under ten Hag, that player is re-emerging. In the second half, with the match delicately poised at 1-1, the 24-yearold “took the game by the scruff of the neck” and scored two brilliant goals.
It’s clear that United remain a long way from the finished article, said Jamie Jackson in The Guardian. But in his brief time at Old Trafford, ten Hag has shown himself to be a manager with a “keen football brain” who makes the “right calls on the big decisions”. No wonder that, inside Old Trafford on Sunday, the prevailing mood was reminiscent of “how it felt during the golden years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
AI and the 'cocktail party problem'
Under The Radar The human ear can naturally filter out background noise. Now technology has been developed to do the same
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
The government's growing concern over a potential US Steel takeover
In the Spotlight Japan's largest steelmaker, Nippon Steel, is attempting to buy the company
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Finger-prickin' good: Are simpler blood tests seeing new life years after Theranos' demise?
Today's Big Question One Texas company is working to bring these tests back into the mainstream
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The 'Swiss model' shaking up the Champions League
In The Spotlight Uefa says the new format offers 'greater excitement' but critics say boredom is guaranteed
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Raygun: heir to Eddie the Eagle?
Talking Point Australian Olympic breakdancer Rachael Gunn has become 'a worldwide meme'
By The Week UK Published
-
Graham Thorpe obituary: 'chameleon' batsman with 100 England caps
In depth Cricketer's 'bottle in abundance' endeared him to fans
By The Week UK Published
-
Boxing at the Olympics: the row over sexual differences
Talking Point Controversy over Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting shines a spotlight on the murky world of gender testing – and the IOC's inaction
By The Week UK Published
-
The long-awaited return of the college football video game
In the Spotlight EA Sports' 'College Football 25' is the first installment of the series in 11 years
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Gareth Southgate's England: a bittersweet swan song
In Depth History books will favour football manager who transformed culture of football in England
By The Week UK Published
-
A brief history of the modern Olympics – and the winner's curse
Paris 2024 will be the 30th instalment of the summer Games
By The Week UK Published
-
What can England learn from Spain's sporting prowess?
Today's Big Question Long-term investment in coaching young talent brings Spanish success at Euros and Wimbledon
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published