How Man Utd could line up under Ten Hag

FT Desk

• 21 Apr 2022 11:24 BST
• 6 min read

Manchester United have announced Erik Ten Hag as their next permanent manager.

It has been widely known for some time that the current Ajax manager has been earmarked as the long-term successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and he will pick up the reins from Ralf Rangnick in the summer transfer window.

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However, despite his success at Ajax, Ten Hag is a relatively unknown quality in English football and Man Utd fans would be forgiven for knowing very little about their incoming manager.

So how will Man Utd play and what will the new manager’s preferred starting XI look like next season?

How Man Utd could line up under Ten Hag

From the manager’s time at the Dutch giants it seems as though Ten Hag prefers to play with a 4-3-3 formation, so we can probably assume that’s what he’ll use at Man Utd.

In defence, Ten Hag is likely to stick with David de Gea in goals, with Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane in the centre of defence.

Man Utd desperately need new full-backs, but Ten Hag may look to stick with Diogo Dalot following his improved performances under Rangnick.

However, we will likely see the club look to bring in a new left-back and there we could see Ten Hag suggest Nicolas Tagliafico, who has been outstanding for Ajax this season.

In midfield, it would seem likely that Scott McTominay and Fred will fight over one position in the midfield duo (but McTominay could lose his place if a top signing is brought in) while Ten Hag would undoubtedly look to resurrect Donny van de Beek’s career at Man Utd, due to the fact that he became a star under the Dutch manager’s instructions at Ajax.

Up front, Ten Hag will likely look to Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford as his main source of goals and assists on either wing, with the ever-present Bruno Fernandes in the No.10 position as the club’s de-facto playmaker.

However, some real issues may come up front. Not only are the club losing both Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard in the summer but it seems certain that one of Ten Hag’s first tasks at the club will be to tell Cristiano Ronaldo that he is no longer a starter for the side, as they push back up the league table.

Reports in England seem to believe Man Utd will make a serious move for Benfica star Darwin Nunez in the summer, who would be the perfect fit as the club’s new No.9.