How long will it take Ten Hag to turn Man Utd around?

Karan Tejwani

• 3 May 2022 21:14 BST
• 3 min read

Erik ten Hag is set to take over as Manchester United manager in the summer, and the expectations are already rising ahead of his arrival.

There’s hope that the Dutch coach can carry his magic from Amsterdam to Manchester, and considering his CV at Ajax, there is lots of belief he can replicate that success when he moves to Old Trafford.

In four-and-a-half years at Ajax, Ten Hag has won two league titles, two Dutch Cups and reached the Champions League semi-final in 2019, and there could be another league title on the way to wrap up his stint.

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In addition to that, there’s been the superb development of talented players over the course of his tenure such as Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Donny van de Beek, Antony and Ryan Gravenberch.

How long with Ten Hag need?

All of that has combined to raise belief, and considering the pressure and attention that Manchester United already command, there will be little margin for error from the fans’ perspective.

A lot of Ten Hag’s work at Manchester United will be determined by how well he is supported – managers have come to the club in the past, struggled and left, before saying they weren’t backed enough by the club.

The club have to see this as the start of a new era – one they can’t get wrong – and in order to not make a mess out of it, they will need to adequately support the man they have given a three-and-a-half-year contract to.

The expectation for the first two years, according to Gary Neville, will be to reach the Champions League, then to mould a team worthy of challenging the top and then to win the league title within five years of his tenure.

It’s easier said than done, though, as managers in the past were given equally long contracts but not enough time to make good of it, getting the sack in the midst of their work.

Manchester United have a decent enough squad – something definitely to work on – an improving academy, but will need to get their transfer business right, and that tone needs to be set right from the off in his first transfer window.