Inside Ten Hag’s Man Utd transformation since derby mauling

Erik ten Hag’s ultimate authority is breeding a winning mentality

Ahead of Manchester derby Sky Sports senior reporter Melissa Reddy analyses United’s transformation under Ten Hag.

Manchester United players feel like they are being properly coached, corrected, and steered at the club; Ten Hag is bettering United in the immediate term while plotting future stability and success.

“The gaffer is excellent at planning,” begins a Manchester United staffer, elongating that point to stress its merits, before adding: “but having worked under so many managers and being a part of different dressing rooms, I would say his biggest strength is how he reacts especially in dark moments.”

In October, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City “hammered” United to pinch the Dutchman’s description ending their four-match winning run and problematically underscoring an inferiority complex.

It is a fitting skill to circle for Erik ten Hag as he primes for his second derby in England given the first was definitely one of those critical junctures that required a powerful response.

The opening half at the Etihad threatened to derail all of the progress Ten Hag had made with the side after those early, sobering slaughterings by Brighton and Brentford. City was 4-0 up at the break, yet the scoreline still flattered a petrified United.

One senior player revealed that Ten Hag’s clear, confident talk at half-time despite the state of play “changed our mindset,” but moreover “showed us he is a real leader and believes in us during the worst moments, maybe when we don’t know how to believe in ourselves.”

Ten Hag called that grueling game a “status check” for United, who had defeated Liverpool and Arsenal – they are still the only side to oust Mikel Arteta’s league leaders this season – but were facing another crisis of confidence. In the days following the derby, the manager held several meetings that touched on different facets, the first being psychology.

He told his players their attitude was not right, and within 10 minutes of kick-off their body language suggested they’d thrown in the towel.

Rio Ferdinand is happy he no longer has to watch Manchester United games through his fingers as Erik ten Hag’s side prepares for Saturday’s Old Trafford derby.

The former United defender admits that some of the crazy things he has witnessed at his old club in recent years have left him on edge.

But Ferdinand has seen enough improvement to give him hope that United has a chance of beating Manchester City in the 189th derby. 

‘Consistency is the key element for me: getting and remaining consistent is vital and we’re starting to see that with Man United. There isn’t that panic there was before or the complete capitulation we’ve been seeing for a while. There is a calm edge around the team. 

‘That comes from the manager and from a rebuild – rebuilding individuals which, in turn, helps the collective.

‘You’re seeing players growing in confidence. These were a bunch of players that were shot to pieces and Ten Hag has had to build not only footballers but men back up again.’ said Ferdinand.

Since the derby, United has won 14 times in 17 fixtures across all competitions, with a solitary defeat.

The team is clearly responding to Ten Hag’s methodology and enjoying the depth of clarity and direction they have under him.

The fastest manager in history to record 20 wins at United’s helm commands such a buy-in due to his excellent ability on the training pitches and, significantly, the way he rules.