Monday was 11 years to the day that Manchester United last won the Premier League championship, with Robin van Persie scoring a magnificent hat-trick against Aston Villa to provide the ideal send-off for retiring manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Over a decade later, the Red Devils seem no closer to breaking their long drought, with another managerial change looming in the Old Trafford dugout, amid suggestions that Erik ten Hag may not be able to complete his third season in command.
Despite previous claims that Sir Jim Ratcliffe was set to keep faith with the former Ajax manager, the weekend’s humiliating FA Cup defeat against Coventry City may have served as a tipping point or turning point in the Dutchman’s reign, even if the club eventually advanced to a second consecutive Wembley showpiece in the competition.
Ten Hag, who called the media “embarrassing” for their response to the 3-3 tie, remains optimistic despite the increased scrutiny, but even his most ardent admirers are likely to question his United credentials.
If this summer marks the end of the 54-year-old’s tenure, his two-year tenure will be labeled a failure, as he was unable to return the club to the top of the domestic and European game, even failing to advance beyond the Champions League group stage this season.
However, there are a few reasons why Ten Hag’s impact may be stronger than any coach since Ferguson’s departure, with his belief in youthful talent at the heart of it.
Of course, Louis van Gaal was responsible for developing Marcus Rashford, who has 131 goals since his debut in February 2016, while Jose Mourinho placed his belief in a particular Scott McTominay, who has 10 goals in a career-best season.
| Scott McTominay’s full PL debut – May 2017 – 2-0 win vs Crystal Palace |
|---|
| GK – Joel Pereira |
| RB – Tim Fosu-Mensah |
| CB – Eric Bailly |
| CB – Phil Jones |
| LB – Demetri Mitchell |
| CDM – Axel Tuanzebe |
| CM – Paul Pogba |
| CM – Scott McTominay |
| RW – Jesse Lingard |
| ST – Wayne Rooney |
| LW – Joshua Harrop |
Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also turned to Anthony Elanga and Mason Greenwood, respectively, while David Moyes promoted Belgian wizard Adnan Januzaj during his ill-fated spell in charge, but none of those three remain in Manchester’s first-team squad for a variety of reasons.
While each coach after Ferguson has been responsible for at least one notable academy prospect, Ten Hag may leave a more lasting impact after releasing two potentially tough future players – Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
Alejandro Garnacho Record at Manchester United
Alejandro Garnacho’s record at Manchester United Ten Hag may not have been responsible for scooping the 16-year-old Garnacho from Atletico Madrid for literally peanuts (£420k) in 2020, but he has allowed the Spain-born, Argentina international the opportunity to blossom in the senior levels.
Garnacho was the highlight of United’s FA Youth Cup success in 2022, scoring twice in the final against Nottingham Forest. He made his debut at the end of 2021/22, before fully distinguishing himself under Ten Hag the following season.
After having a rocky start under the new manager in the summer of 2022 due to criticism of his attitude during pre-season, Garnacho scored his first goal for the club against Real Sociedad in the Europa League in November and hasn’t looked back since.
The youngster, dubbed a “young Cristiano” by club great Paul Scholes, finished his debut season with five goals and four assists in all competitions, including late strikes away at Craven Cottage and Elland Road.
This season, the 19-year-old has established himself as a regular in the side after starting over 30 consecutive games in all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing four assists in the process to remain a bright light in a challenging collective campaign.
The youngster’s recent oblique social media criticism of his manager may imply different, but Garnacho must be grateful for being handed such a prominent position so early, with Ten Hag rewarded for his risk-taking style.
The same can be said about the aforementioned Mainoo, as the duo seem to be the sort of players that any future manager can build the team around for years to come.
Kobbie Mainoo’s season statistics
Mainoo, who was also a member of the FA Youth Cup winning squad, has had to wait since 2022, making just three first-team appearances under Ten Hag last season, including a League Cup start against Charlton Athletic.
As the 19-year-old has revealed, he was thankful for Ten Hag’s willingness to “push” him throughout his time in the younger levels before making his senior debut, with the Dutchman’s patient approach paying off.
An injury suffered in pre-season contributed to Mainoo’s ‘late’ entry into the first-team squad, but since making his full Premier League debut against Everton in late November, he’s only gone from strength to strength, scoring three goals in 25 games.
Gary Neville dubbed him a “bright light” for the team, and the Stockport-born talent, who has already earned two appearances for his nation, only seems to be getting better from here, with a spot at Euro 2024 possible.
Mainoo is now expected to be a “key player” for the club in the future, according to former Arsenal and Chelsea great Cesc Fabregas. He may be the team’s heartbeat for the next decade or so, saving United millions in the transfer market.
Again, Ten Hag was not responsible for the midfielder’s development before to his arrival in the dugout, but the veteran coach deserves high praise for how he has managed him since then, since few managers would have been ready to elevate the playmaker so quickly.
Perhaps more academy talent will emerge before long…
Academy players who may succeed Garnacho and Maino
One glance from the bench at Wembley on Sunday revealed who may be the next to come off Manchester’s renowned production line, with left-back sensation Harry Amass – nicknamed “Luke Shaw’s successor” by writer Alex Turk – standing out.
That injury-depleted matchday squad also contained 18-year-old centre-back Louis Jackson, who played in the FA Youth Cup final almost two years ago, as well as fellow youngsters Ethan Wheatley and Habeeb Ogunneye.
There is also buzz about 19-year-old Omari Forson, who came off the bench against Mark Robins’ side, while another young striker, Shea Lacey, is making headlines for his performances in the junior setup.
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