Erik ten Hag has revealed that his own stubbornness played a role in his decision to take the Red Devils job, despite being aware of the potential risks involved.
Ten Hag’s Love for Manchester United: Carabao Cup Win & Ferguson’s Influence
Dutchman Erik ten Hag expressed his love for Manchester United and his desire to create his own history after leading the team to their first trophy in six years with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final. Although he is only seven months into his debut season, he has already made a significant impact by turning the team’s form around and changing the club’s culture.
Making Big Decisions
Erik ten Hag has made some significant decisions since taking over, including the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and dropping club captain Harry Maguire from the starting XI. However, his switch from Ajax has already paid off, and United arrived at Wembley having lost just one game in their previous 20. The team was sitting third in the Premier League and still within sight of the title race. A midweek victory over Barcelona in the Europa League followed by the cup success three days later has proven that United is on the right track.
Creating His Own Legacy
Ten Hag’s love for Manchester United is evident, and he wants the team to create its own history and legacy. He sees the club’s shirts, boundary with the fans, Old Trafford, and the legacy of Sir Alex Ferguson, which makes a big impression on him. When the opportunity came to manage United, he thought it was the right club for him.
Silverware is an Inspiration
According to Erik ten Hag, silverware shows that a team is on the right pathway and direction. Winning the Carabao Cup is an inspiration and motivation to keep going and improve. He believes that the team should be happy for 24 hours but not satisfied because satisfaction leads to laziness, and lazy teams do not win games or trophies.
Dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson
Erik ten Hag had dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson during the week, and the former manager attended the final. Both were invited into the dressing room to join the post-match celebrations. Ten Hag said that Ferguson was really happy for the club as an owner and wanted to be part of it. He added that it was an honor to share his thoughts with Ferguson about football, dressing rooms, teams, strategies, and everything he did for Manchester United. Ten Hag sees Ferguson as an inspiration for everyone.
Quadruple Remains Possible
United is still in the FA Cup, and the potential for a quadruple remains. However, Ten Hag is solely focused on Wednesday’s tie with West Ham. He believes that it is possible to win more silverware, but the team needs to believe in it and do the right things. The focus has to be on the job, and one hundred per cent focus is necessary to get the right results.
Celebrating the Cup Victory
The players celebrated the cup victory on Sunday night, and Ten Hag hopes he can do more dancing in the future after showing off his moves with Antony and Lisandro Martinez. He believes that they have to sacrifice and suffer every day to win trophies, but they should celebrate these moments because it is not business as usual. The Carabao Cup win means something, and the team has to keep going. Every game is a big game from their perspective, and they have to do everything to win.