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6 months ago
28
Erik ten Hag and Manchester United deserved to win the FA Cup. They set up exactly how you should against opponents with a higher footballing IQ.
Ten Hag played with two midfield holders in Sofyan Amrabat and Kobbie Mainoo, used Scott McTominay to stop Rodri and made the big call to deploy Bruno Fernandes as a false nine rather than start Rasmus Hojlund.
It worked out perfectly because a team like Manchester City deserve that level of respect if you want to beat them.
But I was left with the nagging question: ‘Why has Ten Hag not done this more often and shown better tactical nous over a longer period to compete against the biggest and best?’
On Saturday, United got it right — both full-backs, Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, were great and deserve credit, but you have to ask why it has taken Ten Hag so long to get it right.
Man United deserved to win the FA Cup after playing the perfect set-up against Man City
But it raised questions as to why Erik ten Hag had failed to achieve that performance before
Of course it helped that Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane were both available. They are guys who understand the position and it’s a crying shame they’ve missed so many games.
But it doesn’t explain why Ten Hag came up with a proper gameplan at Wembley and not before.
The only other time I can remember United playing like this was at Anfield, and on that occasion they had luck on their side to get a 0-0 draw. This win was not down to luck.
Even though the opening goal was an error from City, the response from United was impressive. They stuck to their plan with real discipline, rather than getting carried away, and the second goal was fantastic.
Marcus Rashford’s wonderful crossfield ball started the move and Bruno’s final pass for Mainoo was arguably the best assist of the season. It was brilliant from a player in total control of his emotions. We saw how United lacked creativity when he missed the game at Crystal Palace. To produce an incredibly clever bit of skill in the middle of a red-hot final summed him up.
United won because of what went right for them, not because City lacked intensity, even if Pep Guardiola’s side started with more lethargy than usual.
The talk will now be of Ten Hag’s future. I’m pleased he has won a second trophy because he’s had to put up with a hell of a lot at Old Trafford. At the same time, it is normal for a manager to take criticism at such a big club.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer The reality is he has not shown enough in terms of motivational techniques or tactics over a period of time.
He has failed repeatedly and I don’t think this final will be enough to save him because the United owners cannot base their decision on one match.
United have been horrendous too many times this season. Fans of rival clubs would love Ten Hag to stay because they don’t see him as the figure to push the team on.
Clubs are criticised for changing managers without having a successor lined up, but also slammed for seeing what is out there first, which is deemed disrespectful to the incumbent. My view is that after the season United have had, it was imperative for the club to look at viable options. I don’t think the hierarchy will feel guilty if Ten Hag is upset. He will be well compensated if he leaves and his job would not be under threat if the team had performed.
United have to be competitive in big competitions. They have been nowhere near it for a year and the buck stops with the manager. I would be amazed if there isn’t a change, despite yesterday.
I was interested to see Steve McClaren engaged on the touchline. Steve was one of the best coaches I ever worked with when he helped Sven Goran Eriksson at England.
Pep Guardiola will have been fine with his line-up, and there was no pressure until the first goal
Ten Hag got the United job too early, and is not the answer despite the right tactics at Wembley
He has been underused by Ten Hag. Many times, I have watched United and wondered how they could be over-run so badly when Steve was on the touchline.
I suspect he had a role yesterday. United condensed the space centrally and played on the counter, perfect for the occasion.
Guardiola will not have been second-guessing his line-up. They weren’t under pressure until Josko Gvardiol’s mistake and the first goal was always going to change the dynamic against opponents who sat off well.
For Ten Hag, it was good to see him smiling. He is a humble and likeable guy and got his tactics right. But the big picture is he got the United job too early and I still don’t think he is the answer.
English (US)