Ten Hag: Manchester United in current state can’t reach Sir Alex Ferguson standards

Erik ten Hag has not hid away from the reality of the pressure that comes at Manchester United, but he does not shy away from the fact the team cannot match the standards previously set by Sir Alex Ferguson in their current state.

The Dutchman has dealt with a lot as he enters his third season at Old Trafford. No manager that has come in since Ferguson has lasted three seasons and only time will tell if Ten Hag can break that mould, but he certainly believes the club will be successful on his watch.

Ten Hag demands the highest standards of his players, but he knows we are not where we need to be at the moment. That has not stopped his side from winning two trophies in as many seasons, after beating Man City in the FA Cup final back in May. He will argue these are signs of block laying for future success.

“At the moment we can’t match the standards he set but still we won trophies,” said Ten Hag in reference to his Carabao Cup and FA Cup triumphs, as quoted by The Telegraph.

“Remember, six years before this club didn’t win trophies so we are coming back, we are returning.

“But it is also obvious that we are not there but it is very important we need all the processes right and that we can construct a team that we can line up the best players to construct the best teams.

“We as a team have to match the standards to win every game and then you get where you have to be. Because those are the expectations Sir Alex set for the club.

“One thing for sure – there’s almost no club in the world where expectations are so high as at Manchester United and that is set from the era of Sir Alex and then the rest of us who comes after have to deal with this.

“But that is nice – it is a big challenge. Also, it demands the highest standards in every process and we’re not there in every process.”

Ferguson was United’s most successful manager, but he didn’t return a trophy in his first two seasons at the club. Football was very different in the 1980s, though.

Ten Hag pledges to more success at United

It’s important to stress Ten Hag is not trying to play dumb. He accepts that no one at the club is happy about United’s struggles on the pitch. Everyone knows that has to change, but he believes in the progress. When he came in we knew he had a big job and we can accept that if there is a successor, he’ll also face an almighty task. That’s presumably why INEOS are not making any kneejerk decisions on the managerial front and they should be credited for that rather than smirked at by sections of the media, where several journalists with a chip on their shoulder fire shots at the club on a regular basis.

Ten Hag addressed the media in his press conference on Friday, hitting back at their ‘fairy tales’ and ‘lies’ about his position during the international break.

Stressing that everyone wants more at the club, Ten Hag added: “We are calm but we’re not happy. That is also for sure. No one – not the players and staff, not the leadership, not the board is happy with this position.

“But we are calm and know what we’re doing. We know also the reasons why we have to change. We are calm in our strategy and we are convinced that we are getting to where we want to be and we can make the season a success and that is independent to what will happen in the next seven games.”

Could fans turn on Ten Hag?

When asked about fan support and whether the tide could change if results don’t pick up, Ten Hag answered adamantly that they were on the same page as everyone at the club. In other words, part of the process that is unfolding at OId Trafford.

“They see the problems we have to face at the start of the season and they know also when we stick together and they keep supporting us in the end we’ll repay them and we will repay their trust in us,” he said.

“That’s what we did the last two years. I’m convinced this process will keep going and we will get there together, the players and the fans and the staff.”