Erik ten Hag has been tasked with implementing a major change from Manchester United technical director Jason Wilcox, who has reportedly instructed the manager to adopt a new style of play for the remaining games this season.
It has been a challenging campaign for United’s Dutch manager and the pressure is on for him to keep his job. The Reds were knocked out of Europe before Christmas after finishing bottom of their Champions League group. On top of that, United currently sit seventh in the league.
The only positive we can talk about is reaching the FA Cup final. That takes place on May 25 and it will be a repeat of last year’s final since we face reigning champions Man City.
Winning the FA Cup could save Ten Hag his job, but it will also be important to improve our form in the league, even if qualifying for the Champions League is out of the equation. A win over Sheffield United tonight could lift the Reds to sixth position and ahead of Newcastle if the Magpies falter at Crystal Palace.
According to journalist Alan Nixon, Jason Wilcox has ordered Ten Hag to implement a more possession-based game beginning tonight against the Blades.
The reporter suggests failure to introduce the style could result in Ten Hag losing his job at Old Trafford. This backs up claims that the Dutchman is effectively ‘on trial’ between now and the end of the season.
It remains to be seen if Ten Hag will follow Wilcox’s orders, but he would be stupid not to given he will be part of the decision process at the end of the season.
The biggest problem for Ten Hag is that he has a squad full of players who treat the ball like a live hand grenade
But United need to start controlling games better. It’s a results business and the results we’ve seen this season have not been good enough.
Only time will tell if we will be able to notice any differences tonight. United should be able to keep the ball against teams like Sheffield United, even though we’ve struggled against plenty of teams we should be beating this season.
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