Ten Hag reaping rewards from Manchester United signings who were desperate to play for him

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Erik ten Hag‘s Manchester United are flying right now with four straight wins to bounce back from an underwhelming start.

United have gone from a laughing stock, to the team nobody wants to face right now, with Ten Hag’s side showing a combination of fight and skill, strong in defence and dangerous in attack.

Ten Hag inherited a huge challenge rebuilding United, but it was helped by releasing a group of players who did not want to be there any longer, like Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani, and Dean Henderson out on loan.

The key move in replacing them, is not simply signing big names or throwing money at the situation, it has been to sign players who are desperate to play for Erik ten Hag.

READ MORE: Confirmed Manchester United transfers, ins, outs, loans, releases for 2022/23

Ten Hag reaping rewards

Frenkie de Jong was United’s top transfer target. But the problem with the pursuit of the midfielder was that he simply did not want to sign for the club.

United took far too long to accept this, but thankfully this misjudgment did not extend too much further. The club’s odd chase for Adrien Rabiot ended when he increased his wage demands.

The first signing of the summer came with Tyrell Malacia. Lyon had been pursuing him, before United hijacked the deal.

Malacia instantly chose to spurn Lyon’s advances, jumping at the chance to join Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.

He told the club website after his arrival, “I spoke with him on the phone when everything was agreed, and it was a really positive vibe and feeling and he wants to improve everything and wants to win prizes so I’m looking forward to it.”

Following next was Christian Eriksen, who had the pick of several clubs, as a free agent. He had the safe option of staying at Brentford, a return to Tottenham with his former Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte was also mooted.

He instead chose United, and explained Ten Hag was key to his decision. He told the club website: “I don’t come here just for the logo itself, I want to come here and play. Obviously to speak with the manager and hear his ideas and have conversations with him on the football terms was great and ideal for me to get the decision and the possibility of coming to Manchester United.”

Lisandro Martinez knew all about Ten Hag from his time at Ajax. He had to push to secure the move. AS reported he interrupted his holiday to hold a meeting with the Dutch club to inform them of his decision to leave.

The Athletic reported how he had a fiery exchange with Ajax technical director Gerry Hamstra in which he made very clear his desire to move to Manchester United. In the process he snubbed competing interest from Arsenal.

Casemiro was the next new face through the door, and he jumped at the chance to join. Unlike Frenkie de Jong.

Once the deal was agreed with Real Madrid, Casemiro was a Manchester United player within days. His arrival has given the whole club a boost, that a player with his stature in world football was willing to join United at the club’s lowest ebb.

Antony had to really fight to secure his move. He was desperate to rejoin Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, and even held an interview with  Fabrizio Romano via YouTube where he publicly expressed his desire to leave.

He had to go on strike at Ajax to secure the switch, and eventually the deal was done, announced on deadline day.

Manchester United need characters who want to be here. Antony embodies this. He told the club website: “Erik has all my respect and affection and it will be a privilege and an honour to be working with him again.”  

Martin Dubravka was United’s final signing. He didn’t waste any time securing the move. He told the club website: “A week ago the conversations started between the agents and the clubs and after that they informed me that there is a chance to join them. I said ‘OK, let’s do it’ and I’m here now.”

Some of these players have barely got started yet. Antony has played just 58 minutes of football, scoring once, Casemiro hasn’t started a game, while Dubraka hasn’t yet featured.

But it’s clear to see the effect that bringing in the right players, with the right attitudes, can have a big effect on the team on and off the pitch.

Eriksen, Malacia, and Martinez have already played a key role in United’s revival over the past four games, and there’s so much more to come.

The new arrivals are helping to set the tone; their desire to play for Ten Hag is mirrored by the players already in the squad. When they see how desperate a player like Antony is to perform for the manager, it sends the right message out.

Contrast their with a pursuit of Frenkie de Jong and Adrien Rabiot, players who clearly had other priorities, it appears Manchester United have been very fortunate to bring on board such a good group, and the manager is reaping the rewards already.