Eric Ten Hag: Stubborn or strategic?

Eric Ten Hag picture from Manchester United training session.

Manchester United is the most successful club of the Premier League which unarguably is the most competitive football tournament. Hard to believe but the Red Devils have won this 20 times which is the highest amongst all the other teams.

But for the past couple of years, Manchester United aren’t justifying their history. They are having a hard time even to be in the top-four. They won their last title in the 2012-13 season, and UEFA Champions League in 2008 with Cristiano Ronaldo on their side. The management never seemed to take a strong decision after Sir Alex Ferguson left and the results were often disappointing. They have been on-and-off managers ever since.

Sir Alex Ferguson with a Premier League trophy

Supporters of Manchester United started losing hope but then the Prodigal son “Cristiano Ronaldo” returned and supporters started gathering again. But again, the team was not in the right place. Managers kept arriving and leaving, strategies and roles kept changing.

After all, management brought Eric Ten Hag, whose first major decision was to bench their highest scorer who had kept them alive in the UEFA Champions League. Above all he didn’t keep a single strategy.

Eric Ten Hag’s Strategy breakdown

We have had a research on games that Eric Ten Hag’s Manchester United have played and we have a breakdown for you.

We observed that Eric Ten Hag prefers to start possession with his deep defense lines which lets other teams to come into their box and what he wants is to run a long ball where strikers will counter towards the goal and defenders or Bruno Fernandes will try a long pass most of times, that’s when slip-ups happen and the goalkeepers are to be blamed. We have seen slip-ups in the defense lines so much just because of the strategy that is to always bring the ball deeper into the defense lines. 

According to ESPN, Eric Ten Hag even switched benches to be nearer to the tunnel at

The Old Trafford even though at the cost of shifting the technical area. He was told that it will cost a lot money even though he didn't change his mind and forced the management to do so as it gives a better view of the game to him.

We also observed that he likes to keep their best attackers behind to come as a super-sub. Like Garnacho, with his speed and skills Manchester United could have a better position on the table but in the first half despite being fit, he wasn’t given much opportunity to start and no matter who plays how, he likes his ex-club players to be on the pitch despite not contributing much for the side. We sensed a hint of partiality here.

The Boss Attitude

Eric Ten Hag shouting at his player in a Premier League Game. Pic Credits: goal.com

The implemented plans for the games were very vague and opened up play but after several such moments, he didn't change the plans and did things as he wanted.

Sources told Footdudes that Ten Hag never listened to the staffs as well and it started bothering them as game after game his strategy proved wrong and got so many shots on the goal post for which defenders and goal keepers had to take the humiliation.

We also got to know that he loved to be in control and checked his ego frequently. He even punished players and humiliated them in front the whole team. It is surprising but one of the players is Cristiano Ronaldo who after refusing to come in as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspurs was banned from the dressing room and to train with first team. It was a bit too harsh I reckon.

After the 2012-13 season, under Eric Ten Hag, this season has been their worst in the Premier League for 8th position. But the Red Devils managed to defeat the title holders Manchester City in the FA Cup finals. A fluke or strategy?