Erik ten Hag has disagreed with Jamie Carragher’s feedback that Manchester United are going backwards this season – by saying the statistics present that his workforce has really improved.
United host native rivals Manchester Metropolis in a Tremendous Sunday derby this weekend, stay on Sky Sports activities with kick-off at 3.30pm, within the newest acid take a look at to see how far Ten Hag’s facet have improved from final season.
In his column in The Every day Telegraph, Carragher stated United’s summer time signings have led to the membership turning into “stale” – and that Ten Hag ought to now be questioned about whether or not he can get one of the best out of his squad.
However in his pre-match press convention for the Metropolis recreation, Ten Hag hit again at these claims.
“In possession we now have to do higher, however there are causes and I do not go into them, however everyone seems to be seeing why. However there are additionally information so I disagree [with Carragher], we’re significantly better,” stated Ten Hag.
“In excessive ball regains, we’re a high of the Premier League. Within the center [of the pitch] ball regains, we’re high. The urgent is excellent. In order that’s not the reality, what he [Carragher] is telling.”
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Sheffield United’s Premier League conflict with Manchester United.
In a fortnight the place United have picked up three straight wins towards Brentford, Sheffield United and FC Copenhagen, albeit through removed from convincing performances, Christian Eriksen stated United nonetheless want to search out their “steadiness and routines” this season.
Requested about these feedback, Ten Hag stated: “We’re in the best course. We now have a solution to go. I see positives however I see negatives.
“What Christian is referring to is we aren’t constantly in possession on the extent the place we may be. Like Arsenal away, the primary half-hour in Bayern Munich away. We should always do that on a constant foundation.
“We do not take the profit within the attacking transition moments, we ought to be as a result of the power within the workforce can take profit from it. We take note of it, we have to develop. Then video games will develop into simpler.”
So, what do the stats say?
Ten Hag is certainly proper – Manchester United do rank very extremely of their urgent stats within the last two-thirds of the pitch.
United are, as he says, “high of the Premier League” by way of possessions gained within the last third and excessive turnovers. He’s barely fallacious by way of profitable the ball within the center third of the pitch – with United second behind Everton in that statistical desk.
Nevertheless, there may be nonetheless work to be finished by way of enhancing United’s urgent. Their passing permitted per defensive actions (PPDA) tally ranks tenth – so, common – within the league. It reveals that whereas Ten Hag’s facet do win the ball excessive up the pitch, opponents do are inclined to maintain the ball as effectively and play it round United’s urgent forwards as effectively.
What’s PPDA?
PPDA is the variety of opposition passes allowed outdoors of the urgent workforce’s personal defensive third, divided by the variety of defensive actions by the urgent workforce outdoors of their very own defensive third. A decrease determine signifies the next degree of urgent, whereas the next determine signifies a decrease degree of urgent.
The opposite urgent concern United have, which Ten Hag did reference in Friday’s press convention, is ending possibilities after they win the ball excessive up.
United have the fourth-highest quantities of pictures after profitable the ball of their last third, however the evident statistic isn’t any objectives from 104 excessive turnovers.
As anticipated, Manchester Metropolis have the best quantity of build-up assaults within the Premier League this season, so if United do win the ball excessive up in Sunday’s derby, they should begin taking these possibilities.
Ten Hag on misfiring strikers: We have to be higher
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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag speaks on the advance he is seen in goalkeeper Andre Onana and insists he believes Marcus Rashford can get again to scoring objectives.
United go into Sunday’s derby with a slight striker scoring downside. Metropolis ahead Erling Haaland has scored extra Premier League objectives this season (9) than United’s 5 forwards have managed in all competitions (8).
United’s high scorer this season is definitely defensive midfielder Casemiro with 4 strikes to date.
Requested if their forwards are guilty for this frontline downside, Ten Hag replied: “Fault? It is co-operation. It has to click on.
“We now have proven in some video games, we now have so many in overload positions to the opponents purpose and we do not internet or do not even hit the goal. We ought to be doing this higher.”
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It has been a sobering begin to the season for Marcus Rashford, who has one purpose to date this time period for United. However Ten Hag says he has full religion that the England ahead, who scored 30 objectives final season, can discover his scoring boots once more.
“When you give him the belief and I play him each recreation, most video games additionally he finishes the sport. I’ve robust perception he’ll return to scoring lots of objectives,” stated Ten Hag.
“It additionally has to do with the co-operation, with the motion round and the distribution to him. We now have to work on that and that is my focus level.”