Erik ten Hag has loved a productive begin to his Manchester United tenure and his affect can already be seen in quite a lot of revitalised gamers at Outdated Trafford.
Specifically, Ten Hag has improved loads of the gamers that had been on the membership earlier than he arrived, turning them into real contenders for Champions League qualification.
He’s additionally been intelligent together with his recruitment, bringing in charismatic gamers who can elevate the remainder of the squad and who will mix on the pitch with the crew already established by the previous Ajax supervisor.
Listed below are 5 gamers which have improved below Ten Hag already.
Diogo Dalot
Dalot has been United’s first-choice right-back since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure as head coach final November, beginning all 17 of his aspect’s matches this season, scoring as soon as and offering two assists within the course of.
And his improvement has accelerated below Ten Hag with quite a lot of assured defensive performances which have left Aaron Wan-Bissaka gathering cobwebs on the substitutes bench.
The United boss referred to as upon Dalot to proceed his progress following his Man of the Match efficiency towards West Ham final weekend.
“I hope he retains progressing, so not solely sticking to this degree,” Ten Hag mentioned. “Our method, our philosophy is that good is just not adequate. We have now to do higher,” Ten Hag instructed reporters.
“We’re proud of the event and the performances of Diogo so it’s fairly clear.
“It’s heavy when you must play each sport however bodily he’s bought a extremely good profile and I’m positive he’ll preserve going and he’ll preserve growing. That’s what we demand and I’m assured he’ll try this.”
Marcus Rashford
Rashford, like lots of his team-mates, endured a horrendous marketing campaign below Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick final season.
But the 25-year-old has bounced again by scoring seven targets in his first 15 video games which has fuelled requires his inclusion in England’s World Cup squad.
His brace towards Arsenal in September was Rashford at his finest, together with his velocity and trickery inflicting the Premier League leaders untold issues, whereas he scored a thumping match-winning header towards West Ham.
“I feel he’s already,” Ten Hag mentioned when requested if Rashford was turning into an elite participant. “Earlier than you’re 25, to attain 100 targets, I feel you’re already there, however he gained’t be glad with that.
“Ultimately, it’s about what number of trophies you win along with your membership and I feel he can develop his sport much more.”
The striker has recovered from a horrific run of type and appears like a special participant below Ten Hag.
A superb header from Marcus Rashford to place Manchester United 1-0 up towards West Ham 🔴
The ball from Christian Eriksen although 🤌pic.twitter.com/LER5HFwSBt
— Sky Sports activities (@SkySports) October 30, 2022
David de Gea
After an uneasy begin to the season, De Gea has begun to blossom below Ten Hag and produced a string of beautiful saves within the current victory over West Ham.
“So, everybody has their very own opinion and their very own philosophy,” Ten Hag mentioned after that 1-0 win. “For me, for a goalkeeper, you must shield the objective and be sure you don’t concede targets. In that truth, he’s magnificent.
“On the toes, for me, he has the capabilities as effectively. I feel if you see this season, he’s progressing from sport to sport on that half. And that has to don’t solely with the keeper.
“It has additionally to do with those in entrance, the way you give the keeper the choices to deliver passes in, as a result of after they don’t run free, or within the mistaken moments, or within the mistaken positions, then he doesn’t have the choices to cross round.
“However I’m satisfied he can do it and I feel the video games to this point show that. I feel he’ll enhance from sport to sport on that half.”
He’ll get pleasure from a break this winter after being overlooked of Spain’s World Cup squad and Ten Hag will likely be eager to supervise his continued enchancment.
READ: Rating Man Utd’s 23 Premier League keepers from worst to finest
Luke Shaw
Shaw loved an imperious 2020-21 season, adopted by a superb European Championship, however seemed a shadow of that participant over the last marketing campaign.
And, when Ten Hag signed Tyrell Malacia, many anticipated Shaw to lose his beginning spot and few had been stunned when he was benched for August’s victory over Liverpool.
However the 27-year-old has fought laborious to win Ten Hag’s belief and has regained his spot within the supervisor’s most well-liked XI.
“He speaks to the gamers individually quite a bit and I feel, from the beginning of pre-season, I might see what kind of supervisor he was going to be and I used to be extraordinarily impressed with the best way he got here throughout, not simply when it comes to how he speaks to you, however his concepts of how he desires his crew to arrange,” Shaw instructed membership media.
“His construction and the best way he desires to play with the ball and with out the ball – it was actually spectacular. Issues clearly take time, however I feel we’re stepping into the correct path and I feel it could possibly be a extremely good subsequent few months as a result of I really feel like we’re taking the correct steps.”
Raphael Varane
Varane did effectively sufficient throughout his first season at Outdated Trafford however accidents restricted his affect as United stumbled to sixth place in 2021-22.
However, after being paired with the irrepressible Lisandro Martinez, the World Cup winner seemed a lot improved as Ten Hag’s aspect recovered from their opening two defeats.
His present harm has re-opened the door for Harry Maguire however we reckon Varane will likely be straight again within the beginning XI as soon as he’s match once more.
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