Last summer if Manchester United were asked to appoint a successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Mauricio Pochettino would have been a lot more of a smarter choice than he currently looks to be.
The United squad seemed more in need of evolution than revolution to reach the next level.
After watching the team through the 2021/22 season so far, more drastic action is required. Many supporters are in the ‘rip it up and start again’ mindset, with it clear Solskjaer’s much-vaunted rebuild has begun to crumble.
Erik Ten Hag is the popular choice as United’s next permanent manager, and the Dutchman appears far more likely than Pochettino to bring a big overhaul to the squad.
Pochettino has previously been linked with signing the likes of Harry Maguire and previously worked with Luke Shaw at Southampton. Ten Hag comes in completely fresh, with his only link being to Donny van de Beek, who played just 69 minutes of United’s league campaign this season anyway.
Relentless record continues
Ten Hag’s relentless record at Ajax this season continues to show what he is capable of. At the weekend they thrashed fifth placed Twente 5-0.
This was Ajax’s eighth 5-0 victory of the season and their goal record is quite astonishing. This season Ajax have scored 69 league goals, and conceded only five.
To concede just five goals all season is quite staggering, and former United defender Daley Blind has played his part, featuring at left-back in the weekend win.
Add in goals in cup competitions and the Champions League, and Ajax have scored 107 this season and conceded only 10.
To have a seasonal goal difference of +90 at mid-February is simply staggering, and Ajax’s 100 per cent record in the Champions League group stages up against the likes of Sporting and Borussia Dortmund further underlines their credentials.
Speaking after the win over Twente, Ten Hag spoke to Voetball International and said he was pleased with the way his Ajax players did not let up.
He said: “The second half had the same game image, Twente was no longer involved and it was very difficult with our intensity.”
“I think they are still well served with 5-0,” he remarked, suggesting Twente should feel fortunate the scoreline was not far higher.
This is the kind of attitude United want from the next manager, a coach who can bring an attacking revolution to Old Trafford, while still able to maintain defensive control.
It might not be an instant transition for Ten Hag. It will depend on how much scope he is given to remodel the United squad in the summer and how quickly they go about it.
Going for Pochettino would be the safer option due to his previous Premier League experience. But Ten Hag offers a far more exciting upside, and with United fans desperate for a combination of winning attacking football, he is too tempting to pass up.
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