Melissa Reddy: Inside Ten Hag’s Man Utd transformation since derby rout

Erik ten Hag’s ultimate authority is breeding a winning mentality; players feel like they are being properly coached, corrected, and steered at the club; Ten Hag is bettering United in the immediate term while plotting future stability and success

Ahead of the Manchester derby, Sky Sports News’ Senior Reporter Melissa Reddy analyses Manchester United’s transformation under Erik ten Hag.

Manchester is covered in a charcoal hue, the sky cracked with its riotous showers serving as heritage noise all through a communique in the shadow of Old Trafford.

“The gaffer is high-quality at planning,” begins a Manchester United staffer, elongating that factor to strain its deserves, earlier than including: “but having labored under such a lot of managers and being a part of one of a kind dressing rooms, I could say his biggest strength is how he reacts – particularly in darkish moments.”

It is a fitting skill to circle for Erik ten Hag as he primes for his 2d derby in England given the first turned into surely one of those essential junctures that required a powerful reaction.

In October, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City “hammered” United – to pinch the Dutchman’s description – finishing their four-fit triumphing run and problematically underscoring an inferiority complex.

The establishing 1/2 at the Etihad threatened to derail all the progress Ten Hag had made with the side after the ones early, sobering slaughterings via Brighton and Brentford. City have been 4-zero up at the break, yet the scoreline still flattered a petrified United.

One senior participant discovered that Ten Hag’s clear, assured speak at half of-time despite the country of play “modified our mind-set,” but moreover “showed us he is a real leader and believes in us throughout the worst moments, perhaps when we do not know a way to agree with in ourselves.”