Ten Hag's standout wins brought the drama as season finished on a high

TWO trophies in two years is no mean feat at United. Ernest Mangnall, Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson and Erik ten Hag are the only managers who have lifted major silverware in successive seasons.

- BRUNA REIS

Without the FA Cup as a new attraction in the Old Trafford museum, there would almost certainly have been a new face in the dugout next season.

However long Ten Hag's new contract is and whoever comes and goes in the coaches' room adjoined to his office at Carrington, uncertainty over his future has not been entirely banished.

But when the majority of players are available to Ten Hag, he has presided over not just United's best wins but their best performances. Ten Hag's United have only won with four-goal hauls in seven games (none accompanied by a clean sheet) and have not scored five in a game since the opening weekend dismantling of Leeds in August 2021. There were a meagre eight victories by a margin of at least two goals last season.

Their penchant for drama has surfaced in most of their standout wins with Ten Hag in the dugout.

UNITED 2-1 LIVERPOOL, AUGUST 2022

This was Ten Hag's first victory against a team that were the reigning FA Cup and League Cup winners and who had finished second in the Premier League and reached the Champions League final. Only Real Madrid had beaten Liverpool in the calendar year.

United arrived at Old Trafford reeling from the generational nadir at Brentford, where they were thrashed 4-0 nine days earlier. The atmosphere on a balmy evening was intensified by protests against the Glazer family outside the stadium, amplified by the Monday 8pm kick-off time and unveiling of Casemiro.

Ten Hag dropped captain Harry Maguire, talisman Cristiano Ronaldo and lethargic left back Luke Shaw. To general astonishment, United overwhelmed Liverpool in the first half and led 1-0 through a splendidly constructed Jadon Sancho goal. Ten Hag was still dissatisfied. Anthony Elanga was replaced by namesake Martial at the pause.