Yes, Manchester United fans, if you were expecting an epic turnaround this season, you can now start to lower your expectations. Erik ten Hag, the manager who many believed was the Red Devils' salvation at the start of his contract, has let slip a warning that sounds more like a bucket of cold water: the team isn't ready yet. Even with millions invested in new signings, the feeling of a tightrope walk is inescapable.
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Ten Hag, who recently signed a contract renewal until 2026, admitted in an honest and almost painful interview that United, this giant that was once feared throughout Europe, is not 100% ready for the Premier League kick-off. And then you ask yourself: how can a club that has already spent more than 160 million euros on signings still not feel “ready”? The answer, according to the manager himself, is simple - but no less alarming: “The team isn't ready, but the league is starting”. It's as if the clock is running faster than it needs to, pushing Manchester United into a minefield where any misstep could be costly.
After a 2023/24 season that was, to say the least, a nightmare, Ten Hag and his team are under more pressure than ever. Just think, Manchester United finished eighth in the Premier League, their worst position since 1990. Not to mention the humiliating elimination in the Champions League group stage, leaving the Red Devils with a place in the lowly Europa League. If it hadn't been for the FA Cup title, the Dutch coach would probably already be looking for a job elsewhere.
But instead of a bitter farewell, Ten Hag received a vote of confidence - and, let's face it, a rather expensive one. United opened their coffers and brought in reinforcements who, theoretically, should have changed the club's fortunes. But, as recent history has shown, money can't buy time. “We're complete and now we've been working together for, say, 10 days and that's always going to take time,” said the manager, in an attempt to calm spirits. Only, for a club that was once synonymous with glory, “time” is something that may not be available in large quantities.
The pressure on Ten Hag is not just internal. Rivals Manchester City, who have been dominating the Premier League with an overwhelming dominance, are always on the lookout. While Pep Guardiola's City continue to pile up trophies, United always seem to be one step behind, struggling to find their identity. And that, dear reader, is an open wound that doesn't heal easily. Ten Hag knows the task is a Herculean one, and any falter could turn Old Trafford into a cauldron of criticism and frustration.
Even so, the coach is trying to hold on to the good news - or at least the less bad news. New signings such as defenders Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, both from Bayern Munich, have been confirmed in the squad for the first game of the season against Fulham. But is that enough? Manchester United need more than new players, they need a new mentality, a collective force that transforms the squad into something more than the sum of its parts.
And that's where the irony comes in. The same Ten Hag who admits that the team isn't 100% ready is the one who somehow carries the hopes of millions of fans on his shoulders. He's aware that a bad start to the season can ruin everything. As he himself said, “At the start of the season, don't drop points, work hard, make sure you're well organized”. Sounds simple, doesn't it? But when it comes to United, simplicity is rarely enough.
In the end, what Ten Hag needs is time. Time to shape the squad, time to implement his philosophy and time to prove that he can lead Manchester United back to the glory days. But time, as we all know, is a luxury few managers can afford in the Premier League. And in the meantime, the games go on and on and the season begins with the fans waiting - or dreading - what's to come.
For you, the fans, the hope remains that this “we're not ready” is just a temporary phase. Because in soccer, as in life, the greatest victories often come after the most difficult moments. Ten Hag knows this, and now it's up to him to turn words into action, and action into results. Will he succeed? Only time will tell - but the clock is already ticking.