Former England international Joe Cole has claimed that Manchester United will finish outside the top four this season under Erik ten Hag, with the new manager's tenure described as a 'reset' for the club.
Cole compared Ten Hag's appointment to Brendan Rodgers' at Liverpool in 2012 following the departure of Kenny Dalglish as manager. Cole was at Anfield at that time and it took eight years before the Reds won the title following that appointment, a feat which was eventually achieved by Rodgers' successor Jurgen Klopp.
United finished second in the 2020/21 season, but were well off the pace last season and finished thirteen points outside of the top four. However, they have appointed a manger who is seen to have been shaking up the dressing room with it being revealed that his management has been a refreshing change.
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However, despite this, other clubs in the Premier League's so-called 'Big Six' have been able to improve their squad with more well-known players with Champions League football on offer. Qualification for Europe's biggest competition is something that Cole believes will be unattainable for United this season as well.
He told the Mirror : “I feel they've just reset haven't they. I can't see Man United closing the gap. If they do the same as they did last year with a new manager, I think it's levelling out now and then they'll have to rebuild like Liverpool did. I might be wrong but I think Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham will go further away from Man United in terms of what they do.
“From Man United's perspective they have to hope Ten Hag's as good a manager as Jurgen Klopp or even as Brendan Rodgers. It's a huge job he's got on his hands at Man United."
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