Manchester United get ready to truly kick their season into gear in the coming days as Carabao Cup and Europa League action begins.
The flailing league campaign was given a shot of adrenaline with the win away to Southampton and the need to get into a winning habit is all important.
Erik ten Hag absolutely cannot afford a season similar to last, where Manchester United limped to their worst-ever finish in Premier League era.
If that is repeated, not even a domestic double might be able to save his job. Thankfully, a complete turnaround from last season in one major factor might make his job easier, as he reveals himself.
Erik ten Hag’s ‘nice headache’
Last season was a perfect storm of bad events happening remarkably frequently at Old Trafford.
Be it players getting injured, referee decisions going against United, individual mistakes, tactical failings, off-field drama, and whatnot, Murphy’s Law was in action.
Everything that could go bad for United, it did, and the result was a forgettable campaign salvaged by the FA Cup final win.
According to Ten Hag, the situation this year is already much different in the one department where it needed to be.
The Dutchman’s squad got strengthened with five new players in the window and he has emphasised the need for rotation, as well as the privilege of being able to do this season because of improved player availability.
He said: “Absolutely, [rotation is] very important and I hope I have headaches because last year I also had headaches but [it was because] there were no players available. I have many players available and we can make a selection from game to game, definitely we have to rotate because we have to cover so many games. It’s not only about the starting XI. A nice headache.”
Proof in the pudding
Ten Hag’s statement will come as a breath of fresh air for many United fans who have long been frustrated by the manager’s reluctance to rotate.
He pretty much stuck with the same team throughout his first season and while that paid dividends during the season, the players dropped like flies last season.
That can’t be allowed to happen this season, even if it comes at the cost of sacrificing some fluidity and what Ten Hag calls “routines” that come with playing with each other.
The manager seems to have realised this which is why the team has been extremely cautious with their approach to injuries this season.
The triple injury boost United received ahead of the Barnsley clash was partly a result of them not taking any risks vs Southampton.
That needs to continue throughout the season and with the squad deep enough, certainly in some areas, should help minimise the risk of injuries.
Solving that issue alone should make a marked improvement to the club’s fortunes this season.
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