Steve McClaren theory raised as Erik ten Hag told issue must change at Man Utd

18 January 2024 , 10:23

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Erik ten Hag works closely with Steve McClaren at Manchester United (Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Erik ten Hag needs to take control and establish a clear style of play at Manchester United because they are playing an outdated version of the game, according to Jamie Carragher.

Ten Hag is under pressure at United, with the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team putting the team’s underperformance under the spotlight. The Dutchman joined United in the summer of 2022 and has endured a rollercoaster time in charge, with the high point of their Carabao Cup win last season fading amid poor results this campaign.

United are seventh in the Premier League, having lost nine of their 21 matches, while they are also out of all European competitions. Ten Hag arrived from Ajax with a reputation for having a defined tactical approach, but we are yet to see something similar with United, who sometimes appear lost in build-up and have struggled in front of goal.

Former Liverpool defender Carragher has a theory that Ten Hag’s assistant Steve McClaren is heavily influencing United’s predominantly counter-attacking style, which is not in keeping with the Premier League’s other top sides. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, he said: “Do you think Steve McClaren is an influence? The reason I say that is because when you talk about the style of play, it’s probably the style of play that we all played.

“Sometimes you might play in Europe, counterattacking, or you play a small team at home, and you know you are going to have lots of the ball. United feel like it’s football from our day, 20 years ago.

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“The first couple of games they played Brighton and Brentford and it was [David] De Gea trying to get on the ball, he was struggling on the ball, it was Christian Eriksen coming really deep to receive it, he (Ten Hag) wanted Frankie De Jong who’s a real footballing midfielder, and he went away from that and had great success last season.

"Great spell, won a cup, got to a cup final, did well in Europe, so I don't know if there was something that, with Steve McClaren being at Manchester United, being there under Sir Alex Ferguson as well, almost saying this is the way Manchester United play.”

Erik ten Hag has struggled to impose a clear style of play at Manchester United (Getty Images)

HAVE YOUR SAY! What is Manchester United's style of play under Erik ten Hag? What needs to change? Comment below.

‌ Ex-United captain Roy Keane believes that Ten Hag needs to imprint his personality onto his group of players in order to turn things around. “Sometimes the team can reflect the attitude of the manager,” he said. “You see [Jurgen] Klopp up and at them, but you do listen to the Manchester United manager, and you think, I just want to see a bit more personality from him and the team sometimes reflect that.

“Manchester United are missing something – a bit of belief, confidence, chopping and changing where they are lacking goals – it doesn’t matter what team you’re playing for; you end up in Noman's land. They aren’t a pressing team, they aren’t brilliant at dominating, they are not a brilliant physical team, they aren't unbelievable at set pieces.”

Felix Keith