‘Brilliant’ - Neville compares Ten Hag to Ferguson... and Mourinho!

Robin Bairner

• 27 Feb 2023 11:18 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has found universal praise from the Red Devils’ fanbase – and club legend Gary Neville is the latest to add his voice to those crediting the Dutchman with turning the club’s fortunes around.

Man Utd picked up their first silverware of the Ten Hag era on Sunday, with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.

A strike from Casemiro was added to by an own goal from Sven Botman – though Marcus Rashford was unfortunate not to see the effort credited to him – and secured the trophy at the Magpies' expense.

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In Ten Hag, Man Utd fans feel that they have finally got a suitable replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired from the role 10 years ago.

Certainly, that is what Neville, who was a player under the great Scotsman, believes.

“Sir Alex Ferguson was unbelievable at affecting momentum within games and Jose [Mourinho] was great at Chelsea interfering with games with his subs. Wouldn’t say Erik ten Hag is there yet (due to both SAF and Jose achievements) but he makes brilliant substitutions and changes within matches. He doesn’t wait!” Neville wrote on Twitter.

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Ten Hag’s Man Utd target

The expectation is not for Ten Hag to replicate Ferguson’s achievements – after all, the Scot won 38 trophies across 27 years at Old Trafford – but the aim is for him to lift the Man Utd back to their previous status as one of the Premier League’s undoubted elite.

Over the years since Ferguson departed, the Red Devils have dropped behind Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea as one of the teams to beat, with David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all failing in the manager’s job to varying degrees.

In Ten Hag, though, it appears the Man Utd have finally found a worthy successor to Ferguson.