Erik ten Hag reflects on keeping calm despite rough start to Manchester United tenure - ‘I didn’t panic’
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ByEurosport
Published 28/02/2023 at 13:50 GMT
It may seem crazy to think now, but there was a time when there was real concern over Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and whether or not the club had made a mistake with their appointment. However, there has been a huge upturn in form at the Old Trafford club and they are also now the winners of the League Cup. The manager has said he never panicked.
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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has said that he never panicked in the first few months of the job, despite a difficult start to his tenure.
Ten Hag got off to a catastrophic start as United manager, losing the season-opener at home to Brighton before getting thrashed 4-0 away at Brentford.
Difficult results followed in the following weeks, including a home defeat against Real Sociedad and a 6-3 hammering by rivals Manchester City in the derby, but Ten Hag has turned things around since then.
They are now third in the Premier League table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand, and on Sunday, they beat Newcastle United in the final of the League Cup for their first piece of silverware since the departure of Jose Mourinho.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of the midweek clash with West Ham, Ten Hag said he never panicked, despite the struggles.
"I know from experience of previous jobs, it takes time before you get into a way of playing, before you get into the rules of principles," he said.
"The right results weren't there at the start of the season. I didn't panic because it was part of the process.
"You find out a lot in those weeks - when you lose it's not nice, you hate to lose, but you also get some good lessons."
Ten Hag added that after the result over Newcastle he told his team they had to “get back to work”, despite allowing them to celebrate for a little while.
"Of course, yesterday the players were still enthusiastic and they had to celebrate this momentum," the Dutchman said.
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"But yesterday, after we settled down, we got back to work and did what we had to do, which was recovery. The ones who played less [minutes in the final] did a good training session."
The manager was also keen to stress that it was a squad job to win the League Cup, not just down to the 11 players on the pitch.
"Let's make myself clear: we didn't win it with 11 players, we did win with a squad, and I think the squad the whole season is so important," he said.
"Every time players come in - if it's for a whole game, minutes, a couple of games, also during games we can change dynamics - we do it with many more than 11 players. I count on them and know they will be ready.
"Every time they play they take responsibility, and it's about that, but you also have to fight for your position."
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