Manchester United squad can prove they have the right mentality for Ten Hag

Manchester United’s performance against Brentford was one of their best this season and certainly since Ralf Rangnick replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Foals from Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane saw United run out 3-0 winners in their final home game of the campaign.

United pressed high up the field, forcing errors from Brentford, and created several chances throughout the match. The fans were enjoying it and the players looked like they were too.

Rangnick seemed aware of this during his press conference before Brighton, saying: “I think it was visible against Brentford. This was not only my subjective opinion, you could see they enjoyed themselves on the pitch.

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“Not everything was perfect, but in possession, we controlled the game. In regard to next season, there will be some changes with quite a few players’ contracts expiring.

“New players who join us here and players with long-term contracts, it’s something that needs to be discussed with the board [and] Erik [ten Hag] needs to say which players he wants to work with. I’m positive with the players who are here and new players the pathway could be a positive one and that is what we are trying to achieve.”

When Solskjaer was brought in as interim after the reign of Jose Mourinho, the change in players’ morale was clear for all to see. The team’s first result was a 5-0 thrashing of Cardiff at Old Trafford and many good results followed.

Many thought Rangnick would have the same effect when he came in, but that has not been the case. The German tried to implement his gegenpressing philosophy but it failed, and this season has been rightly written off in a similar fashion.

It seems that the players were not completely sold on Rangnick’s ideas, but if Monday is anything to go by then Ten Hag could be walking into a more positive environment than expected. Players both enjoying their football and being sold on the manager’s ideals will be key moving forwards.

Dusan Tadic seems to think that this will be the case, as he told The Telegraph: “He is amazing. He is one of the best coaches in the world, without a doubt. He is totally obsessed with football, I am sure it is all he thinks about. You need a manager like that if you want to be one of the best clubs.

“That is what he has made Ajax. The thing about him that is so impressive is he always seems to have the solution to a problem when you face an opponent.”

There are two games left of Rangnick’s reign as interim manager and, though these games could be considered ‘dead rubbers’, they will help set the tone for Ten Hag’s reign. But, hopefully, the team will be more responsive to the Dutchman’s ideas.

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