It’s a special supervisor however Manchester United as soon as once more discover themselves able much like earlier seasons. Since Erik ten Hag’s appointment as supervisor in April 2022, it has been a topsy-turvy highway for the English giants. The narrative appeared related as United discovered themselves caught at fifth place within the Premier League desk earlier than the Premier League resumed earlier than the facet registered successive wins to go fourth within the league on Saturday.
Some followers and former gamers have already joined the bandwagon to criticise the 52-year-old however veteran goalkeeper David de Gea rushed to his gaffer’s defence and backed United to do properly because the season resumed on December 26. The Spaniard was in Goa with Anthony Elanga, Donny van de Beek to launch the third version of United We Play Programme, an on-ground grassroots soccer initiative, supported by Manchester United and Apollo Tyres.
De Gea defined that the group took time to regulate to the brand new season because of the arrival of a brand new supervisor and new gamers. They started their Premier League season with a 1-2 residence defeat in opposition to Brighton, adopted by a 0-4 away thrashing by Brentford as Ten Hag grew to become the primary Manchester United supervisor since John Chapman in 1921 to lose his first two video games in cost. After the opening two defeats, United bounced again to successful methods with an inspiring 2-0 victory over rivals Liverpool.
“At the beginning of the season it was a bit tough. After that we started playing really good football, winning games. We had a new manager, new players, so we need a bit of time to know the way that the manager wants us to play so it takes a bit of time, but I think we are on the right path and we are winning games and playing really well”, stated De Gea.
Having joined the membership in 2011, De Gea provided an perception into Ten Hag’s techniques and opined that there was a paradigm shift from their enjoying fashion of earlier seasons. Since Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, United have did not win a single Premier League trophy and managers like Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal resorted to a extra pragmatic strategy. “I think this year we want to dictate games and want to have the ball. Try to play from the back and we are pressing teams, pressing high in the opponent’s half and trying to keep the ball in the opponents’ half, trying to score goals and winning games”, he stated.
Meanwhile, younger Swedish winger Elanga may solely lavish praises on Ten Hag, whereas stressing on his high quality ‘as an individual’. Elanga, 20, made his debut in 2021 and has already turn out to be an integral a part of Ten Hag’s plans. “It’s been good. He knows what he’s doing. As a manager, you can see wisdom and you can see the quality he has, not just as a manager but as a person as well. He wants to get to know you as a person and then that will help on the pitch”, he stated.
United have one in every of their greatest fan-bases in India, with the English facet even posting social media standing in Hindi. Labelling the Indian followers as ‘loopy’, De Gea thanked them for his or her help. “It’s been great. I think the love of the fans is crazy. It’s unbelievable how they support us and support the club. So yes, I want to say thank you to everyone here in India and it’s been a pleasure to be here and hopefully we can come here more times”, he acknowledged.
Ten Hag’s facet resumed its Premier League marketing campaign on December 28 in opposition to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, and can now be aiming to construct momentum for Champions League qualification.
