As Manchester United prepares for a crucial match against Liverpool, manager Erik ten Hag has boldly claimed that his team has been superior to their Merseyside rivals since his tenure began at Old Trafford. Despite a challenging season last year, Ten Hag remains confident that United has the upper hand when it comes to silverware and overall progress.
United’s Recent Success Under Ten Hag
Last season, Manchester United endured one of their worst Premier League campaigns, finishing eighth and trailing Liverpool by 22 points. However, Ten Hag, who took the reins at Old Trafford in 2022, insists that his side’s achievements in the past two seasons surpass those of Liverpool. United secured the Carabao Cup in the 2022-23 season and followed it up with an FA Cup triumph last season, compared to Liverpool’s solitary Carabao Cup win.
Ten Hag, who arrived at Manchester United after a successful spell at Ajax, where he won three Eredivisie titles and two Dutch Cups, is determined to continue adding to his trophy collection. Despite a shaky start to this season, with an unconvincing win over Fulham followed by a defeat to Brighton, the Dutchman remains upbeat about United’s prospects.
“Listen, behind City we won the most trophies over the last two years so we performed better than anyone else,” Ten Hag stated confidently, defending his time in charge. “That’s the reality, those are the facts. This year we want to win trophies and I am quite confident we will build to this.”
Ten Hag’s Vision for the Future
Ten Hag has faced considerable scrutiny since taking over at Manchester United, particularly after last season’s disappointing league finish. However, he remains steadfast in his belief that the club is moving in the right direction, both on and off the pitch. He emphasises that success is a process, one that requires patience and continual improvement.
“I don’t care if I get the credit or I don’t get the credit,” Ten Hag said, highlighting his focus on the team’s progress rather than personal accolades. “I had to build this club, we brought young players in, we progressed young players, we won trophies, so what can I do more?”
He added, “As far as I know, the fans are happy with me, but it’s not about me, it’s about Manchester United. We set higher targets, we have very high ambitions, the club, the leadership, the team definitely, so everyone sees the potential, and now we have to work very hard to achieve the targets.”
Ten Hag is also optimistic about the relationship between the team and the fans, noting that both parties are ready to tackle the challenges ahead together. “The fans are ready together with us to take the fire, to take this good challenge. We are all excited, the fans are excited, the team is excited and together we will go for it.”
Liverpool’s Search for Revenge
On the other side, Liverpool enters this clash with a point to prove. Last season, United dealt two significant blows to Liverpool’s ambitions at Old Trafford—a defeat in the FA Cup and a draw that hurt their league title hopes. Scotland defender Andy Robertson recalls the frustration from those matches and the lingering disappointment.
“Obviously we’ve moved on from that, but what happened there last season did hurt,” Robertson admitted. “The 4-3 game [in the FA Cup] we dominated for a large part, and we believed we played good enough to win the game. And in the league game, if we were a bit more clinical we would have got the three points. But sometimes these things go against you and it was unfortunate.”
Despite the setback, Robertson is keen to focus on the present, with Liverpool looking to build on their strong start to the season. “We go there having started the season well and we just hope we can continue that good form. It’s always big when you win against your rivals, especially away from home.”
As the two giants of English football prepare to face off, the narrative is clear: Ten Hag is confident in United’s trajectory, while Liverpool seeks to right the wrongs of last season. This encounter is set to be another fierce chapter in the storied rivalry between these two clubs.
