It is now official that Erik ten Hag is the new manager of Manchester United who will permanently take over the job from the interim manager Ralf Rangnick. The Dutchman, who was previously working with Ajax, has a Mount Everest of a task, reviving the fortunes of a side that has been constantly on a decline. For the uninitiated, the United has been without a trophy since the retirement of the legendary Alex Ferguson in 2013.
Later on, several high profile names such as David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, and Jose Mourinho took over the reins of Red Devils, but they could only watch a side that was increasingly turning consistently inconsistent. Hence, the Dutchman’s entry coincides with Devils’ worst phase in the English Premier League and it would be interesting to see how he lends dignity to a side that has developed the habit of losing badly of late. Considering the scenario, what are the imminent challenges before the new manager of the 3-time UEFA Champions League-winning club? Come let us find out.
Survival Would Be The Key
The erstwhile Ajax coach’s immediate priority would be to avoid an early sacking as the United have had six managers in the last nine years. The numbers make it crystal clear that managerial stability is lacking in the Old Trafford club. In order to avoid an abrupt exit, Hag needs to inject the culture of winning by building a formidable outfit rather than putting together a rag-tag bunch of big names with a heavy price tag. So, Hag needs to look at players with long-term goals in mind rather than thinking about short-term gains. Most importantly, United need to take a leaf out of the books of two of the top sides in the premier league, Liverpool and Manchester City, that are currently reaping the rewards of efforts put in over the years by their respective managers Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. Therefore, for the City’s revival longevity of Hag is very critical.
The Ronaldo Dilemma
A star player can be a blessing as well as a bane for a club. The latter one suits more in the case of Devils with regard to Cristiano Ronaldo. The main reason for bringing back the Portuguese superstar was to help United reclaim the lost glory by winning important titles and to breathe down the necks of top sides in the league such as City, Liverpool and Chelsea. However, despite the Portuguese star scoring 21 goals in the season, United finds itself outside the top four in the league’s last leg.
Also, prevalent is a thought process that United would be better off without Ronaldo. But, the 4-0 humiliation against Liverpool in the absence of Ronaldo revealed that the rot runs much deeper. Hence, the pertinent question is, should the Devils keep or let go of the Portuguese star striker? Ideally, Hag should take a call on whether to retain the 37-year-old striker or relieve him so that the money saved can be used on some fresh legs for future gains.
Preside Over A Smooth Transition
This seems to be another headache for the new manager and the other stakeholders of the Club such as the CEO, Technical Director etc. Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard etc are all set to leave the club after the expiry of their contracts at the end of the season. These apart, there are others wishing to move on as well like Nemanja Matic, which would mean the Devils will end up with 18 experienced players, including three goalkeepers. Resultantly, the Old Trafford club would require a lot of new players to fill the void. However, these changes have to be brought in by keeping in mind the best interest of the club rather than mindlessly splurging on big names.
Invest In Youth
There is no point in bringing in celebrated ones who have reached the end of their careers. Inexplicably, United have, in the past, been guilty of splurging their way out of the crises during the various transfer windows, the tactics that had done them more harm than good. Due to this attitude, they have been without a trophy since 2013. The fetish for unnecessary extravaganza has to give way to prudent or wise spending. It is quite obvious that football thrives largely on youth and dynamism these days, so the club needs to invest in youth who can help it regain its lost legacy. Interestingly, Hag himself had been working with youngsters at Bayern Munich’s reserve team and he should derive something out of that experience as he embarks on a new yet tough journey with the Devils.
