Hag luck story won't cut it for a United boss under pressure

MANAGERS are fond of saying the season is a marathon and not a sprint but, whatever the length of the race, it helps to get off to a good start.

- ROSS HEPPENSTALL

For Erik ten Hag, this was the beginning of a critical campaign for the Manchester United manager, who is under huge pressure to engineer a big improvement on last term's dreadful eighth-placed finish.

It was United's worst-ever Premier League placing and perhaps the most damning indictment yet of how far they have fallen since the good old days under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Fergie retired in 2013, having won the 13th Premier League crown of his glorious reign.

United don't win titles any more but for a club of this size, a top-four finish is the minimum requirement this season.

Especially after the faith shown in Ten Hag this summer, when his position has been strengthened significantly.