Despite going down to another defeat - the 14th of this Premier League season - he will be pleased with the response shown at Old Trafford. The Dutchman and his squad were unworthy of the levels of support they got in south London on Monday night but this time the Stretford End raised the decibels because of what they were seeing.
This was a performance with more structure to it than we have seen of late. Arsenal were odds-on to score at least three goals before kick-off but rarely looked like mustering more than the one they got, which came courtesy of a United mistake anyway. They ended the game with just 11 shots, only one more than Sheffield United managed at the end of last month.
The title-chasers looked nervous and that played a part, but they were unsettled by a combative United. The softtouch who have been too easy to play against in recent months were anything but against a team trying to end a 20-year title drought.
Ten Hag's hand was tied to a degree about the changes he could make, so he turned to two players who have been available to him throughout a dire run of two wins in the last 10 Premier League games. While it worked, it also doesn't reflect that well on Ten Hag, the underpressure manager who had the eyes of Sir Jim Ratcliffe on him at Old Trafford.
Sofyan Amrabat added some steel to the midfield and Amad was bright until injury forced him off for the final quarter.
Denne historien er fra May 13, 2024-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 13, 2024-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Ten Hag future remains in doubt as state-of-play meet comes to end
INEOS GATHERING IN LONDON CONCLUDES WITHOUT ANY STATEMENT
'The tribunal found that it was wrong. This is a big deal in competition law'
THE Premier League came unstuck against City in their opening submission of the hearing into Associated Party Transaction Rules.
Godfather of AI wins Nobel Prize for Physics
A BRITISH-CANADIAN computer scientist who has been dubbed the \"godfather of artificial intelligence\" has won this year's Nobel Prize for Physics.
Chancellor urged to quash ‘damaging' pension rumours
FTSE 250 savings and investment platform AJ Bell has joined the growing chorus urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to back down from a proposed tax hit on UK pensioners, warning that rumours of the government's tax intentions are \"hugely damaging\" and are causing widespread concern long-term savings.
Red paint attack on office block
A PRO-PALESTINE group says it targeted an office block in Manchester city centre housing insurance firm Allianz.
Star 'in pain every day' in his fight with arthritis
ADAM Thomas has told fans how he's 'in pain every day' as he gave a candid update from his latest trip to the hospital.
I was in tears when the police returned my XL Bully
OWNER SAYS DOG WAS LEFT IN 'BAD STATE' AFTER BEING SEIZED
Student cop was 'bullied' claims dad
INQUEST TOLD TRAINEE HAD NIGHTMARES ABOUT BOSS 'TRYING TO STRANGLE HIM'
From Pretty Green to pretty vacant
PRETTY Green, the fashion brand founded by Liam Gallagher, has announced its flagship Manchester store has closed with immediate effect.
Dozens of 'late-stage' terror plots foiled since Arena bomb
THE security services have foiled 43 'late-stage' terror plots since March 2017 as new threats emerge from hostile nations such as Russia and China and a 'resurgent' Islamic State.