Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has employed five key tactical changes that have contributed to his team’s vast improvement this season.
The Dutchman has quickly turned around the club’s fortunes since he took over the reins in May last year.
And the impact that these changes are having and how they have been implemented has been analyzed by coachesvoice.com in detail.
Ten Hag would have been under no illusions about the magnitude of the task when he agreed to join United.
But after 100 wins from his first 128 games for former club Ajax, the 52-year-old suffered a reality check once the Premier League season began.
But after starting his Old Trafford tenure with defeats to Brighton and Brentford, Ten Hag now has his team sitting comfortably in the top four and still fighting for the silver medal on four fronts.
Here we look at five significant changes and improvements that have worked for United, just five months into a great new dawn.
Casemiro’s impact
“Casemiro has proven to be an outstanding addition to the double pivot in Ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1, where he has usually been paired with Christian Eriksen. Since the Brazilian’s first Premier League start, against Everton in October, United have only lost one league game. He has conceded just six goals in 10 games, and three of them came in a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa,” the article notes.
With such an essential role in the squad, the Brazilian midfielder’s experience has been an invaluable addition to the team.
“Casemiro’s ability to break up play, stop opponents and delay their progress, protect midfield, stop counter-attacks, commit tactical fouls and win the ball back have made a huge difference for United out of possession,” they concluded. .
A different center forward
“Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of the squad by Ten Hag and then left in January 2023, and United’s three forwards have adapted as a result,” the article states.
With Anthony Martial often playing in the middle, and in-form Marcus Rashford offering the option to switch from his usual wider role, Ten Hag has seen his desire for more movement behind executed to devastating effect.
Varied movements in the center of the field
“The relationship between Casemiro and Eriksen has also been key to improving United’s preparation game. They understand when to quit and invite pressure and show a better understanding of what Ten Hag wants from his team,” demonstrating the ability to operate as a cohesive unit.
The flexibility of Fernandes and Eriksen
“Once in the final third, Fernandes and Eriksen have been crucial in improving United’s attacking game. His understanding of when to take the number eight positions simultaneously and turn the team into a 4-3-3 has been beneficial. At the same time, Eriksen also recognizes when he is needed in the double pivot”, says the coach’s voice, pointing out the luxury Ten Hag has of having two players with such vision and ability.
Rashford’s goal threat from outside
“Rashford’s coordination of runs and a pass played by his teammate have improved and he is moving into better goal-scoring positions more often as a result.
Only once before has Rashford scored more than 11 Premier League goals in a season; he is already at seven in 2022/23 ”, the article concludes.
And while these five improvements have been just some of the reasons for United’s successful start to the season, there is still a long way to go.
But United fans are optimistic after only five short months of Ten Hag and his changes being implemented, and there is no doubt more to come.
