Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has pinpointed the team’s togetherness as the primary factor behind changing the club’s fortunes on the pitch.
United are now on a run of nine consecutive victories after their Carabao Cup win against Charlton yesterday night.
United powered past the League One opposition to proceed to the semi-finals of the competition.
A bigger test awaits the Red Devils on Saturday as they will come up against city neighbours, Manchester City, at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag will be keen to get one over Pep Guardiola after the first leg ended in a 6-3 demolition at the Etihad.
The United boss was quizzed by talkSPORT on how he has transformed Old Trafford into an impregnable fortress.
Ten Hag replied, “It’s by standards. By every day, living along high standards.” In an apparent thinly-veiled dig at the departed Cristiano Ronaldo, he added, “It’s by the team, building a team. Nobody is bigger than the team; everybody has to contribute to the team.”
“That’s not about 11 players, but the whole squad. It’s the team around the team. All the staff – the medical staff, the performance staff, the coaches, the analysts.”
“Everyone has one aim, and they’re contributing to that and working hard for that with togetherness. When we keep this going, we can achieve a lot.”
Reflecting ahead of the City game on Saturday, Ten Hag said that his side can compete with any team in the world, including Pep Guardiola’s.
He admitted that his players need to be perfect or risk another mauling.
Ten Hag said that United’s stars have it within themselves to beat their noisy neighbours, but they must first have the proper cooperation, winning attitude and mentality.
Manchester United could be about to sign impressive penalty box poacher, he’s what Ten Hag needs
Manchester United are aiming to secure the loan signing of Dutch striker Wout Weghorst, after Footmercato first broke the news last weekend.
A ‘deal in principle’ has been agreed, claim Sky Sports, with Besiktas looking to sign a replacement before agreeing to release him.
Weghorst did not train for the club yesterday, with his move to United a matter of when and not ‘if’ it will happen.
The 30-year-old striker is only a temporary solution for United on loan, but until the end of the season, he could be just what the club need.
Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Weghorst is a penalty box poacher
Outside of his unproductive stint at Burnley, Weghorst has a very good record, and the way he has scored his goals is very impressive.
A statistic reported by Statman Dave via Twitter reveals: “In domestic league football, Wout Weghorst has scored 125 goals with just 1 coming from outside the box.”
Weghorst is a penalty box striker, which is exactly what Erik ten Hag is searching for, looking to find a goalscorer to add to his team.
United have built a strong defence, and while the goals have increased lately, the team has scored only 27 goals in 17 Premier League games, fewer than Brighton, Brentford and Fulham.
The team is creating chances, Bruno Fernandes has seen several go to waste, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro are both carving out opportunities, while Fred even created four goalscoring chances in the midweek win.
What has been missing is a poacher to put away those chances. Even if Anthony Martial hits form, he has never really been what you could class as a penalty box predator.
Weghorst does have a strong record, and if the deal can get over the line, then Manchester United will be a stronger side for having him available, even as an ‘off the bench’ option.
Source: unitedinfocus.com
