26 January 2023 , 16:00
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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag could be in line for the manager of the season award according to Gabriel Agbonlahor - one of his harshest critics at the start of the season.
Ten Hag got off to a shaky start at Old Trafford, overseeing two defeats from his opening two games at the helm, the second of which was a humiliating 4-0 defeat away at Brentford in August. However, the Dutchman has managed a remarkable turnaround since, guiding the Red Devils into the much-coveted fourth spot level on points with third-placed Newcastle.
That same turnaround has forced plenty of pundits to rethink their initial assessment of Ten Hag, who took pelters from certain sections of the media just two games into his United career.
One of those pundits was former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor, who claimed those at the top of the Old Trafford hierarchy should tell Ten Hag to 'pack up' after the Brentford defeat, dubbing that display a "shambles".
However, a lot has changed since then and Agbonlahor, speaking exclusively to Mirror Football and Grosvenor Casino, admits he may have jumped the gun with regards to the United boss.
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"Listen, I think every pundit in the world, even pundits on different planets, would have said the same about Erik Ten Hag, because when you're watching Manchester United start of the season, they look confused, players didn’t look like they knew what they were doing, and I actually felt sorry for Ten Hag," he explained.
"I was thinking 'does he not know what he’s took over?’ He’s taken over a team that's underperforming, players don't know what they're doing and he deserves a lot of credit getting them to where they are now."
Erik ten Hag was questioned by Agbonlahor earlier on this seasonHAVE YOUR SAY! Could Ten Hag win the Manager of the Season award? Comment below
Agbonlahor went on to claim how, should current league-leaders Arsenal slip-up in their pursuit of a first league title since 2004, it is Ten Hag rather than Gunners boss Mikel Arteta who should take the best manager award.
"If Arsenal didn't win the league and finished second, I think it could be Manager of the Season award for Ten Hag. To deal with Ronaldo and his problems, the way he dealt with Rashford when he was late for a meeting. It’s what Manchester United have needed for years.
"They've had it easy, those players. We saw Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] and [Ralf] Rangnick make it easy and Ten Hag has come in and said 'I’m the boss, do it my way or you're not playing. Simple as that'."
"To get them in a title race and where they were at the Brentford game just shows what a good job he's done. Manchester United, they are back."
Ten Hag has certainly impressed even the most vocal of critics and could soon end the club's trophy drought having all but reached the final of the Carabao Cup after their first-leg 3-0 semi-final victory at Nottingham Forest.