Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United are on the “right track” under Erik ten Hag – but believes it’s too soon for any talk of a top four finish next season.
United get their 2022/23 season under way under their new manager this weekend, with Ten Hag having arrived from Ajax earlier in the summer. The 52-year-old has been tasked with turning around the ailing fortunes at Old Trafford following a disastrous campaign last time out.
The former Ajax boss has added to his squad in the transfer window, with Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen joining the club, while the likes of Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani have left. United’s squad, as it stands though, looks set to take on a familiar look to the one that failed to deliver on last year’s hopes of a title challenge.
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Nevertheless, fans have been impressed by the style implemented by Ten Hag since his arrival, having seen his side in action during pre-season. Ferdinand is among those who likes what he’s seen so far, although he hasn’t seen enough yet to suggest United could mount a challenge for the top four.
“I think it’s too early,” Ferdinand told FootballJOE. “I’m happy with the style of football that he’s implementing, and I’m happy with a lot of the words and conversations that you’re seeing come out of the training ground.
“The discipline element within the squad, the identity of the team taking shape, they’re the kind of things I’ve been looking at and calling for. It is pre-season, it is too early to start jumping out about it and going ‘we’re back, we’re going to be the new, reformed Man United’.
“But those elements are the key bits for me, and if we can see an identity played out at the beginning of the season that continues and is sustained, then I think we’re on the right track.”
Asked whether Ten Hag’s style reminded him of Sir Alex Ferguson, Ferdinand replied: “I wouldn’t say it’s reminiscent of anybody, I just think it’s him, and I like it. I like the authoritative behaviour, I like the way he’s very sure and clear on what he wants, and if you’re not carrying that out, he’s going to tell you.
“If I think back to when I played, I responded better to that. I want to know what you want, and I’m going to try and do it as best I can.
“If there’s the grey areas, I didn’t like that. I think a lot of players are like that, they just want to be told what they want.
“In that sense, I feel very positive about it, and when you’re watching the performances, I don’t really take much consideration into results in pre-season, but it’s a nice indication into the way they’re playing, which is good. Whether that carries out into the season remains to be seen, but what we’re seeing at the moment is making me feel a lot more positive than I have been in recent years.”
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