Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, expressed his confidence in winning more trophies with the club, citing their successful record in the past two years. He pointed out that only Premier League champions Manchester City have won more trophies than United during his tenure. In 2023, United ended their six-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup, followed by a surprise victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Ten Hag acknowledged that Sir Alex Ferguson is the only United manager to have won trophies in three successive seasons.
While Ten Hag’s claim about winning the most trophies in English football, behind Manchester City, is indeed true, it overlooks the fact that United finished eighth in the Premier League last season, their worst position since 1990. The recent defeat against Brighton highlighted defensive and attacking shortcomings that plagued the team last season. Additionally, the news of Mason Mount’s injury adds to United’s growing list of sidelined players, which Ten Hag was hoping to avoid.
Despite these setbacks, United invested heavily in their squad this summer, with the arrival of Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte for a reported fee of £200 million. This brings the total amount spent under Ten Hag’s management to over £600 million. While some may argue that United’s progress under Ten Hag is no different from the time when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge, the Dutchman remains confident that improvements have been made.
Ten Hag emphasized that he had to rebuild the club and nurture young players, resulting in trophy success. He stated, “What more can I do?” and highlighted that his focus is on Manchester United as a whole, rather than personal credit. The manager expressed the club’s ambitious nature, not only from the leadership but also from the team and fans. He believes in the potential of the squad and acknowledges the need for hard work to achieve their targets.
Overall, while Ten Hag’s confidence in winning trophies with Manchester United is commendable, the team still faces challenges to climb the Premier League table and compete with the likes of Manchester City. The manager’s emphasis on progress and ambition, backed by significant investments in the squad, highlights his determination to bring success to the club. Only time will tell if Ten Hag can fulfill his aspirations and lead United to further glory.