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Manchester United supervisor Erik ten Hag marked his fiftieth recreation at Previous Trafford with a cushty 3-0 win towards West Ham.
The Dutchman has received 36 of these 50 video games, dropping 9 and drawing solely 5.
The right strategy to mark a half-century of video games at Previous Trafford! đź‘Ź#MUFC || #MUNWHU pic.twitter.com/mgwOfsCSo8
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 4, 2024
Ten Hag’s first ever aggressive video games at each home and European degree each resulted in defeat, as United misplaced at house 1-2 to Brighton in August 2022 and to Actual Sociedad 0-1 within the Europa League group levels.
Nevertheless, one of many key traits of Ten Hag’s first season in cost was the sturdy house type of his aspect, as United went unbeaten from that loss to Sociedad in September till Brighton beat United this season in September 2023 1-3 on the Theatre of Goals.
The Previous Trafford aspect went virtually a yr unbeaten at house and had some spectacular wins in that point.
The Dutchman’s first triumph at house towards Liverpool in August 2022 was important because it got here proper after a shock 4-0 defeat to Brentford. It kickstarted the aspect’s marketing campaign.
The victory towards Manchester Metropolis at house in January 2023 additionally stands out. Most followers would agree that it got here in the perfect interval within the former Ajax man’s period, between the World Cup and the Carabao Cup win on the finish of February final yr.
United had been dropping 1-0 however two late, quickfire targets from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford sealed the factors for the Pink Devils within the Mancunian derby.
One other victory etched into the minds of United followers is the 2-1 victory towards Barcelona, in one of many membership’s extra spectacular European nights at Previous Trafford in a very long time. Having drawn 2-2 within the Camp Nou, United got here from behind once more with targets from Brazilians Fred and Antony.
Nevertheless, the wheels have come off this season to an extent. The place the Mancunian aspect solely misplaced two video games at house all season final yr, they’ve already misplaced seven this yr.
These included three 0-3 losses towards Metropolis, Newcastle and Bournemouth, all within the area of two months. Ten Hag will hope the win yesterday is an indication of issues to return this season quite than the pre-Christmas type.
Ten Hag has all the time spoken about his need to make Previous Trafford a fortress once more. Talking in Could 2023 he claimed, “being at Previous Trafford will probably be an enormous benefit…as a result of we have now seen repeatedly this season simply how large a distinction our improbable house help could make”.
The Dutch supervisor’s report additionally compares fairly effectively to earlier managers within the post-Sir Alex Ferguson period.
Jose Mourinho had precisely the identical house report of 36 wins in 50 matches to boast a successful share of 72%, like Ten Hag.
Louis van Gaal had a weaker report of 33 wins from 50 and subsequently a 66% successful share.
The worst by a distance was that of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who had a a lot decrease win share of 56% as his United aspect solely received 28 out of his 50 house video games. Nevertheless, within the Norwegian’s defence, most of the house ties had been performed behind closed doorways because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (All statistics in keeping with transfermarkt.com)
Wins like yesterday will start to ease the stress on the previous Ajax coach however one feels he’ll want far more of the identical to push his aspect in direction of the Champions League spots and persuade INEOS that he’s the person to steer the Pink Devils into their new period.
