Man United’s troubled transfer window clouds Ten Hag’s prospects

By Daily Sports Nigeria on August 5, 2022

Erik ten Hag’s first competitive game as manager on Sunday should herald a fresh start for Manchester United, but familiar failings behind the scenes have made the Dutchman’s difficult job an almost impossible one.

Ten Hag’s predecessor Ralf Rangnick signed off from his miserable caretaker spell last season by stating the United squad needed “open heart surgery” and up to 10 new players after labouring to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League.

So far, only three new faces have arrived at Old Trafford — Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen.

The United squad is arguably weaker than last season with Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata having left for free, while goalkeeper Dean Henderson has joined Nottingham Forest on loan.

The prospect of a much more significant departure is set to hang over the first few weeks of the season with Cristiano Ronaldo trying to force his way out to play Champions League football this season.

Ronaldo made his first appearance of pre-season on Sunday, playing in the first half of a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano.

But his decision to then leave the stadium before full-time was branded “unacceptable” by Ten Hag.

The former Ajax boss has shown a disciplinarian streak during his early weeks in charge, reportedly reintroducing fines for bad time-keeping and banning the players from having their own personal chefs.

Ten Hag has shown no signs of appeasing Ronaldo’s ego, ordering the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to get fit after missing most of United’s preparations for the new campaign.

“It starts with him getting fit because he’s only just started,” Ten Hag told Sky Sports.

“He is a fantastic football player, and he has proved it so many times, but you are always judged on what you are presenting now and how you are performing now.

“So, the team and Cristiano himself have to prove it.”

– Martial, Rashford & Sancho’s second chance –
Ronaldo’s likely absence from the starting line-up for Sunday’s visit of Brighton offers the chance for a front three of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho to get their United careers back on track.

Rashford and Martial were the attacking fulcra of the side that finished second in the Premier League under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the 2020/21 season, only to be squeezed out by the arrivals of Ronaldo, Cavani and Sancho.

Martial even spent the second half of last season on loan at Sevilla, but the Frenchman has been given a lifeline by Ronaldo’s desire to leave.

Rashford’s slump in form led to him being dropped from the England squad. But he is feeling the benefits of summer without international commitments.

“This is the first year I have been with the team since the beginning (of pre-season),” said Rashford. “I feel a lot better than usual when I go away with the nationals and come back partway through pre-season. It is important to get a fresh start. I feel fresh and ready.”

Sancho also struggled to live up to his £73 million price tag in his first season at United, but he has teamed up well with Rashford and Martial in a pre-season, which included a 4-0 victory over Liverpool.

Ronaldo is not the only transfer saga of United’s summer as a prolonged and, so far fruitless, the chase of Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong has left Ten Hag light in midfield.

That could mean a role in the middle of the park for the versatile Martinez, who has reunited with his old boss at Ajax.

The Argentine mainly played at centre-back for the Dutch champions, but his diminutive 5ft 9in (1.8m) stature has raised doubts over his ability to play that role in the Premier League.

At his unveiling, Ten Hag set his sights on chasing down Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Given the cards he has been dealt, just finishing in the top four will be a monumental achievement.

Source

Posted August 5, 2022


 

You may also like...
UEFA Doubles Prize Money For Women's Euro 2022...

Mcenroe Tests Positive For Virus

Antonio Margarito, Carson Jones up for Saturday

Doping: Gatlin fires coach

Leicester closer to title, Arsenal held

Defender Ashleigh Plumptre Gets FIFA’s Nod To Represent...

 

Latest News Hearn slams Ngannou over Joshua defeat excuse Chelsea eye Martinez to replace Osimhen Visa unveils Amusan, Nwachukwu as global ambassadors I’m not under pressure to coach Eagles – Finidi Super Eagles focused on World Cup qualifiers – Omeruo Ibrahim: Striker who wants to emulate Lukaku at Chelsea Boniface ranked best African performer in Europe Napoli may reduce Osimhen price tag Mali beat Nigeria 2-0 in international friendly NOC commends Team Nigeria, government, media for victory at African Games JOF U-13 Cup: 8 Clubs Qualify For Quarterfinals Osimhen resumes training, fit for Atalanta clash

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (53,386 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (44,393 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (42,544 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (42,214 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (41,999 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (41,877 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (41,760 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (41,218 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (40,267 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (39,179 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (37,627 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (37,205 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media