We’re still very early into Erik ten Hag’s tenure as Manchester United manager, yet there are already clear signs that he’s making a big impact on the squad.
The former Ajax boss faces a big job at Old Trafford and arrives on the back of the team accumulating their lowest ever Premier League points tally last season. It’s hoped his strong coaching credentials which place importance on traits like sustaining possession and free-flowing attacking structures can help United turn their recent fortunes around.
Early signs across pre-season so far have been good. United have played three friendly fixtures under the Dutchman, winning them all and scoring a very impressive 11 goals. The likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have been instrumental in those good attacking displays, leading things from the front and combining superbly with each other inside the final third.
Martial has scored three goals in three games during the tour so far while Sancho and Rashford have each struck twice.
Ten Hag is understandably receiving plaudits for their early season form, and that praise has only been enhanced on the back of a video that emerged from a recent club training session in Perth.
Within the same, United players are playing in a XI-a-side game and we see the club’s front four combining excellently in a move that’s finished by Bruno Fernandes.
Unsurprisingly given the growing chemistry between Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford and Martial, the Dutchman has hinted the four could possibly be United's attacking quartet for their Premier League opener against Brighton.
"It can be," Ten Hag replied when asked whether he would stick with the established front four. "You see they connect really good together. I think when you see that you are lucky as a manager, the team is lucky, we have a threat, we have weapons, and we have to improve that every day, to develop that.
"We have a squad here and we don’t have a lot of time, we have to be ready for August 7, the squad here is defined in generations. We have experienced players, but also we wanted to give some young talents the chance, while they deserved it, to be here."
United have three more pre-season fixtures remaining before their curtain-raiser at Old Trafford, and similar strong attacking performances from that attacking quartet could solidify their place inside the starting lineup, even after the return of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has been granted an extended summer break due to ‘family reasons’ and has been the subject of much speculation after the Portuguese superstar asked his Old Trafford bosses to allow him to leave the club.
Ten Hag is confident that he’ll stay at Old Trafford, though the form of his attacking teammates means it’s looking increasingly likely that he will face a fight to secure a spot in the starting XI.
