Paul Scholes heaps praise on ‘no nonsense’ Erik ten Hag for ‘turning around’ Man United
Paul Scholes praises ‘no nonsense’ Erik ten Hag for ‘turning around’ Man United – and claims the players are now playing ‘as the manager wants’
- Paul Scholes says Erik ten Hag has ‘turned around’ Man Utd by bringing his style
- The club legend thinks that ten Hag has brought more leadership to the club
- Manchester United have a big transfer window ahead of them if they want to build on progress
Paul Scholes says Erik ten Hag has turned Manchester United ‘completely around’ and implemented his own style since arriving last summer.
The 11-time Premier League winner believes his former club has a sense of conviction around them after several years of being branded as missing leaders.
Ten Hag gave United their first silverware since 2017 with a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle United in February, an FA Cup final and a third-place finish in the Premier League.
Speak against ManUtd.com, Scholes said, ‘He’s just not nonsense. In the past, the players of this club have probably played the way they want rather than the way the manager wants. I think he turned that all around.
“The players do what their manager wants, they stick to what he wants off the pitch, on the pitch, and I think everyone sees the benefits of that.”
Paul Scholes thinks Erik ten Hag has turned Man United ‘completely around’ since his arrival
The Dutchman led United to the Carabao Cup trophy, an FA Cup final and third in the league
United beat Newcastle 2-0 in February to win the Carabao Cup and their first trophy since 2017
The 2021-2022 season leading up to Ten Hag’s arrival at Old Trafford was abysmal, as a disjointed mishmash of managers saw the Red Devils limping to sixth.
The Dutchman’s reign has not been without challenges so far, but he handled the early Cristiano Ronaldo crisis with authority and was not afraid to drop underperforming big names.
Scholes also praised the Manchester United dressing room for having a few leaders.
He said: “I think this team has been accused of lacking leaders for at least two or three years. I think there are a few leaders on the team.
“If you think about Casemiro’s experience, Martinez is a great character and he has personality and his experience. And I think that’s all changed a little bit.
They also believe in it. They don’t dominate games as much as they do [would] probably gladly, but they found a way to win and that’s the most important thing.’
The addition of Casemiro in particular has helped United move back to a semblance of their former grit and administration on the pitch.
After winning the Champions League five times with Real Madrid – a joint record – the Brazilian joined last summer on a £70 million transfer.
But Manchester United are still looking to significantly bolster their side in this transfer window, chasing the likes of Harry Kane, Adrien Rabiot and Diogo Costa.
It remains to be seen how much Sir Jim Ratcliffe or Sheikh Jassim, the two men vying for control of the club in a protracted takeover saga, would support Erik ten Hag in the transfer market once the deal is finalized.
