Erik ten Hag has acknowledged that Manchester United are currently not meeting their desired football style, but he remains committed to developing a “proactive” and “dynamic” approach. During his time at Ajax, Ten Hag crafted a team that displayed traits such as aggression, high pressing, defensive discipline, and fluidity in possession. However, there are now doubts regarding how his United side intends to play. Ten Hag also highlighted that the team has shown improvements, citing an increase in goal-scoring and improved consistency following the winter break.

He noted, however, that while the team has been in winning positions, they have struggled to convert them into victories due to numerous drawn matches. The manager emphasized the importance of maintaining a proactive approach and expressed concerns about the potential consequences of shifting to a defensive style that does not align with the players’ strengths. Despite the team’s progress in certain areas, Ten Hag acknowledged that more improvements are needed to meet the expected standards. While United has reached the FA Cup final, their campaign has been marred by a humiliating exit from the Champions League group stage and a fourth-round elimination from the Carabao Cup.