Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is facing a few questions amid the team’s disappointing start to the 2023/24 season.
The next match is a daunting one, away to Bayern Munich. Manchester United enter the game as underdogs, with a mounting injury list.
The circumstances are a little similar to 2019, when United won away against Paris Saint-Germain to win the Champions League tie.
And while Erik ten Hag may look to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s success that night, the Norwegian was actually inspired to win that famous game by the current Red Devils boss.
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Solskjaer inspired by Ten Hag
Remarkably it was Erik ten Hag who provided Solskjaer with the belief Manchester United could go and win in 2019 away at PSG, 2-0 down from the first leg.
The former United boss explains, via The Athletic: “We watched Ajax beat Real Madrid the night before and that gave us hope that another young team could play with no fear against the best.”
Erik ten Hag’s Ajax, including Donny van de Beek, had secured a famous victory and went on to reach the semi-finals that season.
Romelu Lukaku scored twice before Marcus Rashford netted an injury-time penalty to win the tie on away goals, a rule no longer in effect.
Ten Hag backed by Solskjaer
Manchester United fans are already noticing some familiar signs in 2023 of how Solskjaer’s spell in 2021 fell apart.
Poor results, disjointed performances, a fanbase riled up by rabid media attacks on the manager. And it feels like it may only just be beginning. Something needs to turn around. Perhaps a win away at Bayern could do the triclk
Solskjaer added: “Let’s hope Erik is successful and if there is a cycle, that he breaks it. Someone is going to do it.”
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