Since the great Sir Alex Ferguson said goodbye to the beautiful game, it has been a chaotic time for Manchester United, both on and off the pitch.
With Ed Woodward in charge of transfers, the Red Devils invariably ended up overpaying for their targets, and in most cases, players were signed to drive jersey sales rather than conform to the coach’s style of play.
But as soon as Erik ten Hag set foot on Old Trafford it was clear he meant business and the transfers made by the club proved it.
Quality was an obvious prerequisite, as Lisandro Martínez, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro have shown so far this season with their top-tier performances.
ETH transfer secret
But other than that, these players possess a certain aura and character that has resulted in a much more harmonious team with frequent reports of camaraderie running higher than ever.
Last season, reports abounded of locker room cliques, frequent power struggles and certain players’ egos becoming too big to handle.
???? Erik ten Hag on Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United: “He’s gone and he’s in the past. Now we look forward and to the future.”
The boss ❤️ pic.twitter.com/R4SCN18B3F
— UtdFaithfuls (@UtdFaithfuls) December 7, 2022
“We look and with football players clearly that comes first, the capabilities that a player has,” he told United’s official website.
“The human being behind it is also an important factor, but you cannot underestimate it. You need the right characters in your dressing room, not only if you want to win a match, but also if you want to win trophies.”
Martinez is said to be so involved and popular within the group that he talks to everyone and refuses to let the players feel alone.
Among Ten Hag’s rules include the need to maintain discipline, which involves eating together, not using phones while seated, and talking to your squadmates in an attempt to instill a kinder atmosphere.
ETH, the disciplinary
The Dutchman’s no-nonsense attitude has been on full display, especially with his handling of the Cristiano Ronaldo saga. That has definitely earned him fans among the group.
“We have to, because we have a big ambition and if you have it, you have to hold yourself to the highest standards and live them every day.
“That’s the only way to get better and better. Like I said, I’m happy with where we are now, but I also see a lot of room for improvement in football.
“I have a feeling, we have a feeling, that we’re headed in the right direction, but we also know there’s still a lot of work to be done for us here.”
His constant guidance and call for greater excellence should ideally translate into a successful season for the club, which has been hungry for success in recent years.
