Ten Hag's United project enters phase two

The Dutch coach has no excuses in his second season at Old Trafford

- Jonathan WILSON

Everybody knew the revolution at Manchester United would take time. There were understandable concerns after they began with a first-ever home defeat to Brighton and were then hammered 4-0 at Brentford, but once Erik ten Hag had retreated to a compromise position and form stabilised, last season became one of transition, of Ten Hag slowly imposing himself and his method. More will be expected this campaign.

There was even, improbably, a brief moment when it seemed that United might be a third force in the title race, but the concession of late goals at Crystal Palace and Arsenal in successive games in January, costing three points, had effectively put paid to that even before the shock of the 7-0 defeat at Liverpool. And that, really, was the story of the season: United were often quite good but never outstanding, and occasionally they were terrible.

The former issue is perhaps easier to address than the latter. It's natural that when a new manager arrives and tries to instil a new style of play - and given how shambolic United had been, it's perhaps truer to say any style of play there will be a period of adjustment. During that phase, the team will often look slightly ponderous, lacking the slickness brought by familiarity. And Ten Hag was hampered further by the fact he was dealing with such a hodgepodge of a squad, which included a number of players quite ill-suited to his style of football.