Supporters might have been forgiven for thinking it was Groundhog Day when Manchester United were humbled during their Premier League opener with Brighton and one former Old Trafford favourite certainly thought so when dusting off his microphone in the television studio.
Despite pursuing him publicly throughout the summer months, United missed out on signing their priority transfer target Frenkie de Jong - before recruiting Casemiro - and it initially looked as though Ten Hag would have to find a solution to long-standing central midfield problems in-house.
However, after bringing in Christian Eriksen on a free transfer, the Dutchman revised his position and deployed him a little deeper to what he was accustomed at Tottenham and other former clubs. It's a subtle change which has not only benefited the Danish playmaker, either.
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Despite being criticised in tandem during previous seasons, Fred and Scott McTominay started in midfield against Brighton - as well as the following defeat to Brentford - before the Brazilian came out of the side and Eriksen was pushed into his new role. As well as helping to improve the team, the decision also has proven Paul Scholes wrong over his damning assessment on the opening day - where he took aim at McTominay.
Speaking to Premier League Productions after the Brighton game, United legend turned pundit Scholes said: "The quality in the middle of the pitch was really poor.
"I was happy he [McTominay] didn't get sent-off [for a late challenge], but I think he was slightly lucky. Again, he's running with the ball, absolutely ridiculous. The quality in the middle of the pitch was nowhere near good enough, but we have seen that for the last few years with these two players.
"With Fred and McTominay, he [Ten Hag] is going to have to play just one of them [moving forward] but even one of them is probably too many. Fred gives the ball away all the time and McTominay tries run with it constantly and then gives it away. Pass it to your best players...
"It's not that difficult. It's criminal on a day like today [against Brighton]."
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