Manchester United finally confirmed the appointment of Erik ten Hag this week, with the Dutchman signing a three-year contract with the option of an additional year.
The 52-year-old will become the second Dutchman to manage the club after Louis van Gaal, though it’s probably not unfair to say that he faces a much tougher task than his compatriot in terms of trying to turn United’s fortunes around.
United currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, three points off fourth having played a game more. There’s therefore every chance that they miss out on Champions League, and maybe even European football altogether this season.
Ten Hag will be out to avoid similar disappointments during his tenure and will no doubt look to make a number of big changes upon his arrival, so with that in mind, who stands to be winners and indeed losers from his appointment?
Winners
Jadon Sancho
Although we’ve seen glimpses of Sancho’s best form in the second half of the campaign, few would have predicted the struggles he has had in acclimatising to life at Old Trafford. He’s so far managed just three league goals and assists across the whole campaign.
The 22-year-old has undoubtedly been hampered by the lack of structure to United’s attacking play, however Ten Hag’s arrival has the potential to change that. At Ajax, the Dutchman likes to rely heavily upon skilful wide men, focusing on attacking sequences that play to their advantage. Sancho’s profile is perfect for this role therefore expect to see a much better version of the England international next season.
Donny van de Beek
Van de Beek has rarely been bestowed opportunities to show the best version of himself at United. His lack of game time meant he was forced to make a January loan move to Everton where he showed glimpses of how good he can be prior to catching COVID and then picking up a thigh injury last month.
He understandably still has his heart set on making it at United, and there’s no better coach for him to do that with than Ten Hag. Van de Beek was a key pillar of the 52-year-old’s Ajax side three years ago, and he’ll be sure to set his new United team up to get the very best from the midfielder next season.
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James Garner
Another United midfielder who has spent the season out on loan this season is exciting young prospect Garner. He left for different reasons to Van de Beek of course and has enjoyed a very successful campaign with Nottingham Forest.
He’s played in 36 of their 41 league matches this season and has been one of the Championship’s standout stars. While he’s accumulated a respectable four league goals and six assists, it’s been his technical skill and distribution that’s attracted most of the plaudits.
Ten Hag has a proud history of promoting youth players into his first-team and turning them into stars at Ajax, and Garner has all the traits to be Ten Hag’s next potential prodigy at United - especially with the lack of standout midfielders currently at the club.
Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes looked a frustrated character in Tuesday night’s 4-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool. The United playmaker spent more of the night chasing shadows than getting on the ball and trying to make his team’s attack tick.
That’s been the case too often for the Portuguese star this season, however, with Ten Hag sure to make United a more cohesive and dominant side, Fernandes should be granted more opportunities to get on the ball in dangerous positions and unlock opposition defences.
Losers
Harry Maguire
Key elements of Ten Hag’s philosophy is building through the thirds with good possession play, and pressing aggressively when the balls is lost. To do both of these successfully, a high defensive line is crucial.
United under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick have tried to play with a high line, but when they have, Maguire has struggled massively. His lack of pace has been exposed time and time again, making it difficult to see how he fits into a new look United side.
Marcus Rashford
Similarly to Maguire, Rashford has endured a season to forget at Old Trafford. He’s scored just two league goals since October and looks a shell of the player he once was. Fitness issues have undoubtedly played a part in his downfall, and he might be hoping Ten Hag’s arrival could offer him a route back to United salvation. There’s no promise that’ll be the case though.
Rashford has often been at his best in a more counter-attacking system where he can run onto through balls or drive at a disrupted defence in transition. But teams who dominate the ball - as United’s Ten Hag will - tend to pin their opponents inside their own half, meaning such moments are few and far between.
Ten Hag will therefore be looking to rely more on good technical players who can pull a defence apart and exploit the openings that appear. Rashford hasn’t shown himself to be that player during his United career so far.
Ronaldo
Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United was met with a mixed response in the summer, and that scepticism has continued for much of the season so far.
He’s silenced some of those critics with his impressive total of 21 goals across all competitions, however that’s probably not going to be enough to persuade Ten Hag to build his new United attack around the 37-year-old who will be entering the final year of his contract
Ten Hag will need more from his forwards than just goals, and Ronaldo can no longer provide that.
