Erik ten Hag claims only Pep Guardiola has done better than him among PL managers in two years
Erik ten Hag has reflected on the success and challenges he faced at Manchester United, saying only Pep Guardiola has done better than him.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag recently spoke about his tenure at the club, highlighting his achievements and acknowledging the challenges ahead. Ten Hag, who took over in the summer of 2022, has emphasized his aim to restore Manchester United to their former glory reminiscent of the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Since his arrival, Ten Hag has experienced mixed results. Despite early struggles, including an eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season, he managed to lead the team to victory in both the EFL Cup (2022/23) and the FA Cup (2023/24), making Manchester United one of the most successful clubs in England during his tenure, second only to Manchester City in terms of trophies won.
Reflecting on his time at the club, Ten Hag told The Times, “Of course [I feel stronger after winning the FA Cup]. This club didn’t win trophies before I came for six years. In two years, after Guardiola, we won the most trophies in English football. So we are in a strong position. Look, we can beat every opponent. Not one time, more than one time against City and also against Liverpool.”
However, Ten Hag is aware that there is still significant work to be done. Despite the cup successes, consistency in the league has been elusive. The team finished third in his first season but dropped to eighth in his second year.
“But the truth is that there is a long way to go,” Ten Hag admitted. “We have to be more consistent and we need to create a winning culture. It’s not only a dressing room winning culture; higher standards should be delivered across the whole club.”
As Ten Hag continues to build and refine his squad, he remains focused on fostering a culture of excellence and consistency at Manchester United.