Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has conceded that the enduring success of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson has created a “very challenging” situation. Nevertheless, he remains motivated by the prospect.
United appointed Ferguson in November 1986 when the club was at its lowest point, languishing just four points off the bottom of the table with a mere three wins from their first 13 league games.
After a lackluster 11th-place finish in that initial season, Ferguson guided the team to a second-place finish in the 1987/88 season. However, things took a concerning turn in the following years, mirroring the struggles faced by his predecessors, many of whom had achieved limited success before losing their jobs. United finished 11th and 13th in the league in the 1988/89 and 1989/90 seasons, respectively. The glimmer of hope came with their FA Cup win in the latter season, which ultimately acted as a catalyst for change, as significant transformations were being implemented behind the scenes.
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Ferguson clinched Manchester United’s inaugural Premier League title in 1993, marking the club’s first top-flight league victory in 26 years. This marked the beginning of an impressive tally of 13 league championships, accompanied by four additional FA Cups, multiple League Cups, two Champions League titles, and various other European and global trophies.
In the decade following his retirement, Manchester United’s domestic silverware collection has been limited to just one FA Cup in 2016 and two League Cups, one of which Erik ten Hag secured in his first year as manager. Throughout this period, they have not come close to securing their record-extending 14th Premier League title. A series of disheartening results and subpar performances have led to increasing speculation about Ten Hag’s tenure.
During a speech at a Football Writers’ Association awards event on a Sunday evening, the Dutchman acknowledged the weight of Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy, which has set the standard at Old Trafford.
“In football, it all revolves around winning trophies. After Sir Alex’s remarkable reign at Manchester United, achieving success with the club has become a very challenging task,” Ten Hag articulated.
“It’s a challenge I’m not willing to back away from. I embraced the opportunity, and the past year was truly remarkable. Despite a challenging start, it evolved into a fantastic season. We are still quite satisfied with it, but it falls short of Manchester United’s lofty standards. We have ambitious goals, and it’s our responsibility to achieve them.”