After yet another late Manchester United capitulation, Erik ten Hag invoked a rare trophyless Sir Alex Ferguson vintage to try to explain it. The Dutchman compared his work to that of the rebuild of 2004‑05, at the start of which a 19‑year‑old Wayne Rooney was signed and Darren Fletcher, 21, was in his second season as an established first-team player.
Within two years United were champions and the following season they retained the title and won the Champions League.
