Eric ten Hag can’t hide his joy after securing the first title with Manchester United, the first for United after six years. Manchester United beat Newcastle in the final of the Carabao Cup 2-0. This game is only the last, of the important games that Ten Hag won.
United has been exceptional this season, despite the weak start. Comparing the team that played against Brentford and lost 4-0 with the team that played against Barcelona and Newcastle, probably as a fan of United can notice that the impact of ten Hag in the club is enormous. He has changed the squad, the behavior, and the players.
Transfers
Ronaldo’s transfer to Al Nassr was the turning point for United this season. Ronaldo is one of the greatest players in the world and there is no doubt in his abilities, but the second adventure in Old Trafford was more than problematic. He seemed to start well with Solskjaer, but then with Ragnick things changed. His performances were not the same and he did not anymore the physicality and the strength to play in the Premier League and at the same time stay at the highest level.
Eric ten Hag came and he was never an obstacle for Ronaldo. All the contrary. Ronaldo left after the World Cup and summer signings like Casemiro started to be more involved in the United style of play and produce more.
The final
He expressed his joy for the first title won with United.
“Maybe it was a risk but I am a little bit stubborn. I just love United,” he said. “When I see our shirts, when I see the boundary with the fans, when I see Old Trafford, when I see the legacy Sir Alex [Ferguson] left and so many big players that were developed in United teams it makes a big impression.
“We want to do the same, this team wants to make its own history and its own legacy. When this opportunity came I thought this was the right club for me.”
“Silverware shows you are on a good pathway, a good direction,” said Ten Hag. It’s one cup and it’s February but it shows we are in the right direction.”
“This has to be the inspiration, the motivation to keep going on this pathway and improve. Be happy for 24 hours but not satisfied because that leads to laziness. When you become lazy you don’t win any more games and you can’t win trophies.”
Ten Hag commented on the meeting that had with Avram Glazer the owner of Manchester United and the legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
“He was really happy for the club as owner,” said Ten Hag. “He really wanted to be part of it, you could feel that when he was in the dressing room. Very good he was there, he had to show his intentions.
“The way that he was there shows that he’s committed to the process. What he wants is not for me [to say], I have to lead this team, and others in the club are involved in the decisions about ownership.”
As for the dinner with Ferguson, Ten Hag said that is an honour for him to share football thoughts with Ferguson.
“It’s an honor to share my thoughts, to talk about football, to talk about how he leads dressing rooms and teams and strategies, etc. It is very good that he wants to share that not only with me but he wants to give that to Man Utd and we are very grateful for that.”
“It’s an opportunity, it is possible. This can be your inspiration but you need to believe in it,” he said on the possibility of lifting more silverware. “It is only going to come if you do the right things. If you work very hard, if you stick together then things are possible.
“But you have to go from game to game, you can’t look far ahead and dream because it will distract you. The focus has to be on the job. One hundred percent focus is necessary to get the right results.”
He also revealed a curiosity about the celebrations with the players, saying that he prepared the dancing with Martinez and Antony since the time they were part of Ajax.
“We have a history together, Licha (Martinez) and Antony in Amsterdam we did some dancing,” said Ten Hag. “I hope they can do it more in the future but therefore we have to sacrifice and suffer every day to win trophies.
“You have to let them celebrate these moments because it’s not business as usual, it’s not a common day, we won a trophy. This trophy means something, that’s the feeling I get here in the UK. We have won something, we have to celebrate that, but after that point, you have to keep going.
“Wednesday is a big game and from our perspective, every game is a big game. You can’t win when you’re not 100 percent, we have to do everything to win this game.”
United will expect West Ham another difficult game and for Eric ten Hag and Manchester United, a new perspective is opened and more titles will come in the future.