After JorginhoConverted from 12 yards to put Chelsea 1-0 up, Erik ten Hag called Bruno FernandesPlease contact us. Manchester United’s manager put one hand on his player’s shoulder and with the other gesticulated from right to left, defence to attack.
Fernandes ran away after the conversation ended for six seconds. Luke ShawThen and there Diogo Dalotto give the instructions. Ten Hag wanted his full-backs to move forward and outward to drop the balls in the box, as it was obvious.
Seven minutes later, Casemiro rose to summon a magnificent header to Shaw’s cross, moments after Chelsea had cleared a low centre by Dalot from the opposite flank.
Getting the ball in the mixer is hardly a revolutionary concept — and had Kepa Arrizabalaga laid a firmer glove, Ten Hag’s intervention would have been a footnote. Whatever the outcome, it is clear that Ten Hag has clear ideas and communicates them in a clinical way.
Kepa Arrizabalaga can’t keep out Casemiro’s equaliser (Photo: Jacques Feeney/Offside via Getty Images)
He was an unwavering presence at the touchline Chelsea 1-1 DrawHe was able to effectively coach his players through the game. Carrington’s training sessions are proving to be more evident in matches, and the 90-minute match itself is providing additional opportunities for players to learn strategies.
Ten Hag was angry by the things he saw even though United held large amounts of possession and controlled most of the game for long periods.
When Victor LindelofFor this reason, I drove a pass from the back to the front. Marcus Rashford to chase — a combination that has created goals before — Ten Hag animatedly expressed his frustration. Chelsea won the ball, and although United turned possession over again with good pressing that led to Fernandes’ goal, Ten Hag demanded that moves be made through midfield, rather than going direct. (United had been dominant in the middle of the pitch during the first half due to their numerical advantage. Graham Potter then made a substitution and switched formations.
Ten Hag spoke out to his defenders, and then he turned to his bench. “Fucking rubbish,” he said, a rebuke heard also during a drill The pre-season tour. Exercises can trigger a reaction, and Ten Hag often appears to be controlled emotion.
Four minutes later, with 10 to go, Chelsea beat United’s press out left and Ten Hag expressed his annoyance again. “Come on,” he then shouted to Anthony ElangaAs the young winger was hunted down, he stood just a few yards behind him. Cesar Azpilicueta.
Ten Hag engaged in a vigorous dialogue with AntonyHe was concerned about positioning, and encouraged Elanga to chase him back as soon as play continued. Carney ChukwuemekaThe other side broke. Chukwuemeka made the corner. Scott McTominay manhandled Armando BrojaYou must concede a spot kick.
Had United lost to Jorginho’s subsequent side-foot past David de Gea, the scrutiny on Ten Hag’s decision to drop Cristiano RonaldoThe effect would have been amplified. Already social media was flooded with angry Ronaldo supporters pleading for Ten Hag’s firing. Roy Keane (Gary Neville) and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Sky Sports Studio) exchanged heated words about Ronaldo’s status.
But, even before Ronaldo showed such public disregard for squad unity, he had pushed back on Ten Hag’s methods by questioning certain pressing drills at Carrington. Doubt from an influential player impacts a manager’s ability to coach. In the event of rebellion, teammates might not follow instructions as intuitively from the dugout.
Ronaldo was removed from the squad You have to leave the Tottenham Hotspur game earlyAnother branch of the same tree. Ten Hag’s discipline over togetherness and his insistence on following a tactical plan feed into the roots of a manager trying to grow his authority.
Ten Hag at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images).
United had to ride through Fernandes and Rashford as centre-forwards at Chelsea, but Ten Hag didn’t regret excluding Ronaldo. “It is more important to have the right culture and standards and values,” Ten Hag said. “For the longer term, that is always more important.”
This approach is a great way to get the fans involved. The kind of wild celebrations that we saw after Casemiro’s goal, summed up by Lisandro MartinezFeeling collective pride is fuelled when you drag a supporter by his lapels to your face.
Ten Hag is a firm believer in the importance of putting consequences on the pitch. His goal must be to unite the players to a point where they no longer need Ten Hag’s voice to fulfill their wishes.
“We didn’t make the right decisions on the ball,” Ten Hag said by way of explaining his increasing volume as the match wore on. “If we show more composure in the second half, we will create more chances.”
There were other aspects to Ten Hag’s interventions. Antony was told by Ten Hag to stop arguing over Shaw’s pass. The game continued around them. Fernandes was asked to cease disputing decisions made by Stuart Attwell. Perhaps he was aware of the possibility of caution for his captain. Ten Hag instead took that responsibility twice himself, despite being calm over the penalty.
Ten Hag left Steve McClaren for Attwell and his assistants after the final whistle. McClaren’s demeanour was breezy but his head tilt to the side indicated a complaint.
Ten Hag relies on Mitchell van der Gaag to discuss in-game system design. They were often seen together at Chelsea. Ten Hag used a handheld tactic board to communicate. Fredthrough his role prior to sending on the Brazilian for Jadon SanchoUnited could therefore regain momentum in midfield.
There are times when it’s worth throwing the ball in the air, hoping for something extraordinary.
(Top photo: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)
