{"id":617674,"date":"2022-09-07T11:14:14","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T15:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=617674"},"modified":"2022-09-07T11:46:48","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T15:46:48","slug":"erik-ten-hag-manchester-united-perform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2022\/09\/07\/erik-ten-hag-manchester-united-perform\/","title":{"rendered":"No One Is Safe: Erik Ten Hag Lays Down New Law at Manchester United This Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Erik ten Hag<\/a> has set a new precedent<\/a> at Old Trafford this season – earn your place in the starting eleven.<\/p>\n

His decision to leave experienced players such as club captain Harry Maguire<\/a> and five-time Ballon D\u2019Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a> on the bench has only further proven to his squad that their status and history at the club do not equate to guaranteed time on the pitch.<\/p>\n

Erik ten Hag Will Not Reward Poor Performances With Game-Time This Season<\/h2>\n

He Has Bolstered His Squad Wisely This Summer<\/h3>\n

Manchester United<\/a> began their 2022\/2023 Premier League campaign poorly and ended the second match-week in 20th place, after falling victim to two defeats in two games. They conceded six goals across the two opening matches, with four of those goals conceded in only 35 minutes against Brentford<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Manchester United Are in Top Form as of Late<\/h3>\n

They then faced rivals Liverpool<\/a> at Old Trafford on August 22, with the odds stacked firmly against them. Ten Hag opted to make three major changes to the lineup; Ronaldo, Maguire and Luke Shaw were all set for a stint on the substitute bench after all three players offered lacklustre performances against Brighton & Hove Albion<\/a> and Brentford.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/strong>: Strongest Manchester United Line-up After \u00a3498m Transfer Spending<\/a><\/p>\n

The Manchester side completed a triumphant 2-1 win over Jurgen Klopp\u2019s side that saw them cruise above Liverpool in the league table. Maguire\u2019s replacement Lisandro Martinez<\/a> was awarded Player of the Match for his dominant performance at centre-back alongside Raphael Varane, whilst Tyrell Malacia looked a promising alternative to Shaw in the left-back position.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, Ronaldo was barely missed amongst the attackers, as it was goals from the young Englishmen Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford<\/a> that secured the Reds\u2019 three points.<\/p>\n

Ten Hag Has Found a Suitable Starting Eleven to Secure Wins<\/h3>\n

Ten Hag was so impressed with his team\u2019s efforts that game, that he chose to deploy the same lineup for the following two fixtures against Southampton<\/a> and Leicester City – both resulted in 1-0 wins for United, meaning David de Gea and his solid backline picked up their first clean sheets of the season.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/strong>: Premier League Predictions<\/a><\/p>\n

There was one change on the team sheet when the Red Devils faced Arsenal on September 4; their newest arrival Antony<\/a> replaced Anthony Elanga in the front three. The Brazilian netted his debut goal and Rashford added two goals and an assist to his tally as United saw out an emphatic 3-1 victory, consequently ending the Gunners\u2019 five-game unbeaten run and moving to fifth place in the league.<\/p>\n

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\ud83e\udd29 @B_Fernandes8<\/a> is ALL of us right now \ud83d\ude4c#MUFC<\/a> || #MUNARS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VdUrBH4w0R<\/a><\/p>\n

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 4, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n