In the midst of all the upheaval at Manchester United following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s successful completion of his takeover of the team, Erik ten Hag faced a group of people shoving cameras and microphones in his face, and something felt familiar.
In the tunnel of the Williams-Brice Stadium, as warm rain fell from the black skies outside, Ten Hag spoke about how Jadon Sancho’s trial as a false nine could continue into the Premier League campaign because the striker acquired in the summer may need time to get up to speed in England.
When Sancho was first chosen as the winner of a tour to the United States, Ten Hag was in a similar situation the previous year. The manager was waiting on Rasmus Hojlund’s back problem to resolve at that point. This time, Joshua Zirkzee’s participation in the European Championship has caused a delay in his arrival.
Ten Hag actually started Marcus Rashford at center-forward for the first two games of the competition last season before switching to Anthony Martial and then inviting Hojlund. This time, he offered Bruno Fernandes as a substitute because he was playing in the FA Cup final. Ten Hag stated that Rashford is more effective when playing on the left, and it appears that he will do everything in his power to keep the player in his preferred position.
Accommodating his players’ views would be a tweak to Ten Hag’s style of management, but in keeping with how the new football leadership team view coaching. The Dutchman is still very much in control, but he appears open to adaptation after a season when United finishing eighth left his job in jeopardy.
Although Ten Hag’s coaching methodology would shift to accommodate his players’ opinions, it would remain in line with the new football leadership team’s coaching philosophy. The Dutchman appears open to change, even if he still appears to be in complete control, following a season in which United’s eighth-place finish threatened his job.
In his off-the-ball actions against Liverpool and Real Betis, Sancho appeared to be according to Ten Hag’s instructions, applying good pressure and reverting to the 4-2-4 defensive alignment when the opposition was in possession. He dropped to the left, with the wingers level on either side. In the next game, Scott McTominay and Mason Mount moved up from the No. 10 place to shift to the right of Sancho. At Wembley, the strategy proved to be highly effective in the match versus Manchester City.
During his initial public appearances in February, Ratcliffe stated that Ten Hag’s influence is still evident on his team, but the INEOS strategy is for the football executive to set the club’s style, which the head coach then follows. In reality, finding a consistent “game model” that can last longer than individual managers requires more teamwork. Although Ten Hag makes all of the selections and would not accept having tactics put on him, there have been discussions with the directors over what transpires on the pitch. This is a change from the last government.
Daily discussions regarding training have taken place between Ten Hag and Sir Dave Brailsford, Dan Ashworth, and Jason Wilcox, with Chief Executive Omar Berrada also present in the Philippines. The connections that looked so shaky at the close of the previous season need to be strengthened through communication, and players’ buy-in needs to be ensured by a public display of support.
Just as it did during Ralf Rangnick’s interim tenure as manager, Ten Hag’s status uncertainty affected performances in the spring. However, at this time, United’s football executives are openly endorsing the Dutchman.
With his arm wrapped over Ten Hag’s shoulders, Ashworth exited Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego while players were still lingering nearby. McTominay was laughing with his girlfriend, while Tom Heaton was talking to his wife.
Speaking earlier at the SLS Beverley Hills, the team hotel, Heaton shared his opinions. “He is Manchester United’s manager, he is in charge, he is pushing us forward—the players do not think about it anymore, because why would they?” he remarked. The team renewed his contract, we have new hires on board, and the team is going in a little different route. It really is that simple. All the pieces are in place for us to perform.
The club’s administrators have made it a point to lighten up training sessions when needed, and during the open session, there was a hint of that when Ten Hag dragged his players into position for a group photo after calling the winners of each small-sided game over.
Afterwards, Ruud van Nistelrooy supervised a game of rock, paper, scissors between Will Fish and Ethan Wheatley to decide whose team was in possession of the ball initially. To the amusement of those observing, it continued for seven rounds, until Wheatley ultimately prevailed with paper over rock.
But sometimes the stick still wins out over the carrot, and the losers are made to perform press-ups as a kind of punishment.
A major factor in the fresh feel to the coaching is Van Nistelrooy.
Ten Hag had never met his countryman before, but after considering his alternatives, the manager decided to make the suggestion when it became apparent that a change of leadership was necessary. Since then, directors have been impressed by Van Nistelrooy’s presence, communication skills, and game knowledge. He won the Dutch Cup while managing PSV Eindhoven.
Although he has been offering attacking players shooting advice—most notably, running onto the field during a lull in a small-sided match to counsel McTominay, who had twice hit the near post with shots that went either side of the far corner for a goal—he also has a thorough understanding of defensive structure.
“I sort of grew up idolising Ruud and the way he used to play,” said Jonny Evans. “I got a bit of a chance when I was a youth-team player to see him play when he was coming to the end of his United career. I might have trained with him once or twice when he was coming back from injury. It is good to have someone of that calibre and respect in the squad.”
Evans said Van Nistelrooy has mentioned his defensive acumen. “After he left United he had a spell when he went to Spain and he was talking about when he was under (Manuel) Pellegrini and diehard defensive coaches,” he said. “He learned a lot and he saw real value in it. He’s probably himself quite obsessed about defensive structure, as a striker. I’m sure that was always quite interesting (to work out) where he could score his goals.”
Heaton also spent time with Van Nistelrooy when he was a player at United.
“I was always his go-to keeper for shooting,” he said. “If that was a goal there, he’d always say he had four squares so I was almost irrelevant as a goalie. He would always believe that the responsibility for his position on the pitch rested with him, regardless of my whereabouts. He used to hit one of those four squares early, almost like a dart, and you were never able to stop it. I have worked with better people than him.
“It was so good to see him. And he’s been brilliant. His level of detail is superb. You’d be forgiven for thinking: ‘He’s a United legend coming in, is he just a face for it?’ But I’ve been in a couple of meetings and he’s been outstanding.”
Rene Hake, who joined United after leaving his position as head of the Go Ahead Eagles, took over several of Mitchell van der Gaag’s duties, including session planning and scheduling. During an exercise, he could be heard yelling commands about when to press and when to remain compact.
Some continuity remains. “In terms of taking training and the sessions, it’s more or less the same,” said Christian Eriksen. “It’s the same manager so a lot of the training is similar. But they are just two more Dutch people!”
Given that his attention is on the goalkeepers, Eriksen can be pardoned for ignoring Jelle ten Rouwelaar. The purpose of Rouwelaar’s training is to help United’s goalkeepers think clearly and swiftly under pressure. His challenge is to help the team pass the ball better out of the back.
“I thought we did it quite well last year in the first phase, but progressing from there, a little bit higher and through the pitch, was probably the next step for us this year,” Heaton said. “Going from that first phase through to the second and then beyond that.
“Early impressions have been excellent, actually. I had a few phone calls about (Ten Rouwelaar), specifically to say what a good person he is. I actually received phone calls about that, which I have to say in football is pretty rare.”
On the fifth day of the tour, Andreas Georgson, a third former head coach, flew in. Georgson took charge of individual development and set-piece coaching at United after leaving Lillestrom, and the day following his arrival, he participated in his first training session.
Darren Fletcher is energized by the change he made to his own part. Since Wilcox has taken over as technical director, he is no longer obligated to attend training sessions. Instead, he has been playing with the current group and providing guidance during exercises. During one of the sessions, there was the endearing sight of him chasing his 17-year-old son Jack.
Other young players have also had successful tours, including Toby Collyer and Harry Amass, who were helped by academy lead coach Dave Hughes while in the United States. Given the quantity of young players going on the tour, Ten Hag suggested having an academy coach, and Fletcher and Travis Binnion determined Hughes was the most suitable candidate.
The 17-year-old left-back Amass is anticipated to play on for United the remainder of the season, but Collyer, 20, is up for decision. Ten Hag has a high regard for the midfield player, but he will consider whether to arrange a loan or retain him on staff so he can grow and possibly play senior competitive games.
Although Steve McClaren’s departure to lead Jamaica was unexpected, a breakup seemed inevitable considering his promotion from assistant manager to senior first-team coach. After deciding he would like to take advantage of the opportunity in the Caribbean, he stayed behind to look after the returning Euro 2024 and Copa players at Carrington. He had intended to observe how his role would operate in practice.
United’s training sessions at UCLA’s Wallis Annenberg Stadium were naturally quite popular, but aside from an open workout on the first Friday, they were able to train mostly covertly because of tall hedges and tarpaulin covers secured over railings.
Nevertheless, when some fervent admirers attempted to have a peek beneath the lower margins while positioned on the steps leading down to the underground parking lot, security officers had to order them to cease recording.
As they made their way to the changing rooms, fans had a greater opportunity to see the players up close. Every day, scores of them stood in the intense heat, requesting signatures and autographs. Harry Maguire was a master at pausing, but those who failed to do so occasionally found themselves the target of a verbal barrage.
The trip is as much about building relationships with fans and business relationships as it is about playing football. With this in mind, United beat Arsenal to the use of the brand-new COSM facility, which offers an immersive audiovisual experience across the street from the SoFi Stadium on the afternoon of the friendly. Fans were conversed with by Berrada and COO Collette Roche.
Flying to the United States is not the best preparation from a purely sports standpoint, but the football leadership acknowledges that it is an unavoidable aspect of being a big, contemporary club. Nevertheless, the trip was far more efficient this year than it was the year before, when it was more dispersed throughout the nation with a Houston game positioned between east and west coast stops. This improved both the staff and player experience.
Instead, United made a shorter journey return to Manchester by staying in Los Angeles for the duration of the trip and just stopping in San Diego and Columbia, South Carolina on the way home. Following the Liverpool match, United flew off at midnight and returned to the UK at noon local time.
“Yes, 100 per cent,” said Eriksen when asked if this tour was more suited to performance. “It’s different being at a base and travelling less to the games.
“Last year there were a lot of flights in between, short trips for one or two days in this city and then the next one. We need to really slow down and acclimatise because it’s a different environment, different place to train, different hotel. It did feel like a lot of stuff was going on in a very short period.”
The players had more options for relaxing during downtime because they were in the heart of Los Angeles instead of the suburbs of San Diego like they were the year before. During their Monday off, they went to the beach, Rodeo Drive shopping, and golf.
While on vacation in Los Angeles, Kobbie Mainoo paid the team a visit on Friday during their final practice at UCLA. In a different setting, he worked out with former United coach Robin Thorpe at Red Bull’s Santa Monica performance center. Mainoo had a great season after visiting there in the summer of previous year. Jesse Lingard, Neymar, and Marcus Rashford have all previously used the facility.
But there has been some conflict. The journey was marred by Hojlund’s injuries and especially Leny Yoro’s.
Even after Yoro’s fractured metatarsal was discovered on crutches at the team hotel on Sunday following the Arsenal friendly, United was adamant to conceal the full nature of his condition. Since Yoro is seen as the brightest emblem of the new ownership, the club expects his absence to last three months or longer, which severely dents the optimism.
United did not share the prognosis until after Yoro was shown on camera on crutches and a protective boot and after rumors started to circulate.
Negotiations for other objectives also played a role in his attempt to conceal his injury. Bayern Munich’s awareness of the increased need for a center back, for example, influences United’s negotiating position with Matthijs de Ligt.
United made an effort to prevent injuries by controlling loads, use sweat patches to gauge fluid loss during workouts and customize refueling, and adding an ice bath to the team hotel’s rooftop pool.
When Ten Hag gets back to Carrington, he will see a number of important people again. The manager will utilize this week to determine which of the returning players—Lisandro Martinez, Alejandro Garnacho, Luke Shaw, Mainoo, Fernandes, Zirkzee, and Diogo Dalot—are ready to start the Community Shield match against Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.
(Top photo: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
