“Their game plan is virtually identical.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has questioned Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, and even made a “damming” comparison that will anger the Ducthman.
When ten Hag was brought in, the plan was to try and build on whatever success Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had managed to achieve, and fix the glaring problems that were so clear to see.
The dressing room culture was an obvious one, and the former Ajax boss was ruthless in sorting that out as he forced Cristiano Ronaldo out the door, and even now is doing something similar with Jadon Sancho.
However, after an initial kick in his first season, United have not really improved and it looks like they are back where they were two seasons ago under Solskjaer.
Carragher makes the point that if ten Hag was brought in to implement change, then he has clearly failed to do so, and that we have to start questioning him.
He wrote in the Daily Telegraph: “I expected United to become a superior version of Ajax when Ten Hag was appointed.
“Ten Hag enjoyed many exceptional results at his former club, especially in the Champions League, so with a bigger budget and the chance to coach superior players the blueprint seemed obvious.
“The idea must have been to impose the lauded Dutch model of possession football, otherwise what was the point of headhunting him?
“United’s board seemed to be recognising that the least their fans expect is to be front-footed and exciting.
“No-one was demanding Ten Hag create a title winning side in one or even two years, but it was reasonable to assume the United line-up would be clearly distinguishable from the tactical set-up of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho.
“The most damning criticism is that they are not. Their game plan is virtually identical.”
United won their Champions League tie against Copenhagen this week, but it took a goal from harry Maguire, and a penalty save from struggling keeper Andre Onana in injury time, just to see secure the three points.
Carragher makes the point that everything seems like a struggle and even compares it to his 2005 Champions League winning team, where although they were lacking in quality, they could still rely on big moments from players like Steven Gerrard to get them out of trouble.
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