Have United finally found the right manager to catch Pep & Klopp?
It is the latest Manchester United reboot – and forgive us if you think you’ve heard this one before. It can feel like Groundhog Day at Old Trafford as an ever-fading force desperately tries to restore its former glories.
Now it is the turn of Erik ten Hag to revive United’s fortunes – and the Dutchman faces familiar challenges.
He inherited an unwieldy and imbalanced squad.
His star player wants out.
And he’s struggling to bring in the targets he sees as vital to turning this ship around.
So what will be different this time? The truth is, no-one knows.
In 18 months to two-years’ time, it could be another man in the United hot-seat, charged with the responsibility of guiding them back to the summit of English football.
But in Ten Hag they have gone with a man they believe can challenge Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. A manager who plays football the right way and is a proven winner with Ajax.
He will give them a defined way of playing to lift the crowds and bring the club into the modern era. Ultimately, they hope he is the man to bring the trophies back to Old Trafford.
It is a risk. He does not know English football. He is up against four titans of the game in Guardiola, Klopp, Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel.
Meanwhile, Arsenal continue to back Mikel Arteta with the money to restore their own fortunes.
United could have gone with the Premier League-proven Mauricio Pochettino – but were convinced Ten Hag was the man to end nine years of misery.
Only time will tell.
Getty ImagesSquad Goals
It is the eve of the start of United's season and they are still a long way from getting their summer business done.
That is a remarkable situation – but one that Ten Hag’s predecessors will know all too well.
United’s transfer strategy remains an issue, despite numerous reforms and a genuine confidence from the club’s hierarchy that they were months ahead of schedule back in June.
Regardless of what happens between now and the close of the window, they have jeopardised the start of a crucial campaign and left their manager short-handed.
Ten Hag wants Frenkie de Jong above all targets. He specifically wants the Netherlands international but the position of holding midfield is even more important, with the new manager believing a top-class addition in that area is fundamental to the football he wants to play.
If United miss out on De Jong now, it would be a major embarrassment – and also mean they have wasted crucial time trying to get the deal done.
If he does arrive – which they are still banking on – they can at least say they waited for the right man. Even still – it has taken too long.
Ten Hag also wants to strengthen in attack. Ajax are trying to price Antony out of a move but injury to Anthony Martial underlines just how light United are up front.
Cristiano Ronaldo also wants out, so the cutting edge is a pressing issue.
At least Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez have been added.
Elsewhere, Ten Hag’s plans to offload more than 10 players this summer is going slowly.
Even after the departures of Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani, Dean Henderson, Alex Telles and Andreas Pereira, there are still a host of names who are surplus to requirements.
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On the one hand, Ten Hag is in the luxurious position of knowing things surely can’t be worse than last season. On the other, the competition for top four is arguably fiercer than ever, with United far from certain of a return to the Champions League.
That has to be the minimum requirement – but for a club that hasn’t won a trophy in five years, some silverware would be very welcome.
Crucially, United fans want to see the team heading in the right direction.
That doesn’t just mean the odd trophy or two, but without the football to match – as in the cases of Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. And it doesn’t mean a dose of nostalgia and a few memorable nights – as in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United need to see real, tangible progress on the pitch – and they need to see the type of football that suggests they can genuinely challenge Manchester City and Liverpool in the future.
That is what Ten Hag was brought in to do.
If he can lead them back into the top four with a brand of modern, attacking football, he will meet expectations in his first season.
If he can add a trophy as well, he will have United fans believing again.
Getty ImagesFears
The primary fear, put simply, is that this will be yet another false dawn.
Ten Hag says the right things. He has a record for attractive, exciting football that wins trophies.
There have been clear signs of what he is trying to do in just a few weeks at the club. But much bigger names than him have been swallowed up by Old Trafford.
United have tried just about everything.
David Moyes was Premier League-proven – but proved a spectacular failure.
Van Gaal had won the lot and managed the very biggest clubs in Barcelona and Bayern Munich – but his brand of football was a major turn-off.
Mourinho was the guaranteed winner. He won – but still didn’t last.
And Solskjaer was a return to United’s roots. He lifted spirits – but won nothing.
There are no guarantees Ten Hag will fare any better.
It is another step into the unknown for a club that is running out of ideas.
It is impossible not to fear the worst – but there is every reason to be optimistic.
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It is a cliché – but Jadon Sancho looks like a new signing.
It was a bit of a false start for the winger in his first season, which saw him have to cope with the disruption of Solskjaer’s sacking and then the failed interim reign of Ralf Rangnick.
So it is little wonder he failed to produce the sort of show-stealing displays that were commonplace at Borussia Dortmund.
But he is the type of player to light up Old Trafford with his mazy runs, goals and assists.
Sancho was one of the most wanted talents in Europe when United landed him last year – and there have already been signs of him benefiting from a new manager in Ten Hag.
United fans are looking for a new hero – and he could be primed to take on that mantle.
If he does, he might just earn himself an England recall in time for the World Cup.