The answer is quite simple. Solskjaer played a defensive style that stayed in games and used talented players to win games. They did not play out from the back. They did not press aggressively. They were not a particularly intensively fit squad. Then expectation comes in with the signings of Ronaldo and Sancho. There is pressure to play out from the back. They do not know how to. There is pressure to win the ball back up the pitch. They do not know how to. There is a need to run and run and run. They are not fit enough. Come October they look like a joke and without a pre season to get them fit enough to play a pressing game, their new interim manager who wants players to press constantly cannot do anything with them. Basically, United had a decent diesel car and someone put petrol in it and is wondering why the engine isn't working.

Klopp wasn't believed blindly and given time, he secured two finals in his 1st year. These changes brought the faith and trust in Klopp.

Watch the space with Ten Hag.....he is a great tactician...in his 2nd season he will be a title race contender

What these pundits haven’t mentioned in their discussion about Ten Haag improving United is that City and Liverpool will in all probability strengthen their squads and therefore make it harder for United to compete next season.

I'm a United fan, but Ten Hag has a much higher starting point than what Klopp had. Klopp didn't inherit a squad that has the greatest goalscorer in the history of football, a player in Bruno who was top 3 in the league last season, the outstanding young winger in world football in Sancho, the most decorated defender under 30 right now in Varane. Let's not forget that this is still the same team that finished 2nd not even a year ago. This season has been a severe underperformance from most of the squad. Simply restoring them to their talent level would probably take United to around 80 points. It's up to Ten Hag to shape the squad in his image to take them to the level where they can achieve the 90+ points consistently. Say what you will, this United team isn't nearly as bad as the Liverpool team of 2015/16 that Klopp inherited. No a single player in that club had ever had a world-class season at that point except maybe Coutinho and arguably Firmino with Hoffenheim.

Klopp had one thing going for him: when they (owners) made him boss, they meant it. Will Ten Hag really have the ultimate say? Do the owners suddenly "trust" someone (for years), because their track record says they don't.

Key to Klopp success was his recruitment... I can't recall any of their recruitment going wrong except the keeper they bought for less than 5million. And he kicked out all players that doesn't suit his style of play. That could be a problem at United because they are too sentimental.. eg. Pogba, Martial, Lingard, Jones, Mata, etc. Should have left longtime ago.. but the board said no

It really is phenomenal how much Carraghers has improved his English since learning to speak it to work punditry at Sky, he didn't have a lick of it before being hired, fantastic, well done.

I agree with Carragher. Can be little pressure of expectation on Ten Hag next season as there'll be a lot of in & outs, the team is dysfunctional which needs fixing & the fitness levels are poor but it should be expected that he improves the standard of football & team dynamic as next season progresses.

Only Klopp can do a Klopp. Ten Hag is a great manager don’t get me wrong, but the effect Klopp has on the clubs he manages can’t be seen in many managers. He went to Mainz and got them promoted to the Bundesliga in 3 seasons. Went to Dortmund and won the Bundesliga twice in a row along with other domestic trophies. Went to Liverpool and won the champions league, super cup, club world cup, premier league and league cup.

The mistake to to suggest that there's a definitive timeline on a "top coach". There a numerous extraneous variables any Manager has to come up against. Took Ferguson a few years to be successful with Man Utd, took Wenger a year. What you look for in the early stages is direction and progression.

The circumstances are totally different Klopp when Liverpool where no longer a powerhouse there wasn't too much pressure despite United's decline in recent years there is still much expectation & pressure for any coach who comes in.

I could listen to Neville, Carra and Keane put their points across, all day long. No matter how you felt about any of them 'back in the day', these days, the dynamic they have, whether they disagree or not, it's superb.

On Klopp's second season, everyone including the opponents already notice Liverpool's identity. The evidence so clear when Liverpool managed to finish as runners up in League cup and Europa League. That's an impressive achievement considering the group of players Klopp's has under his disposal. This is the benchmark and don't think even Pep could do it. So, the question is do Man Utd fans have the patience if ETH manage to only show progress later than second season?

Difference between Ten Hag n Kloop is Man U is one of the top club n won cups just few years ago but Kloop joined Liverpool when their fans had no league winning expectations. Due to fan pressure many managers failed or sacked early without giving them proper time.

As long as he's got the power cus like Ralf said literally all of them right now are playing for their lives. Lots are getting sold and we're going for committed players rather than commercial ones so hopefully they both get the power to run the club properly this time

Klopp sold the entire team, except for Henderson, Milner and Origi and bought new players completely

Sometimes you can easily tell that a manager is building something. Everyone saw in the first year that klopp was onto something. Similar with arteta’s impact on arsenal. I’ve never had that feeling with any United manager post-fergie

I think, of all the managers available, Ten Hag is the most likely to 'do a Klopp'. However, the rot in United is seemingly deeper than it was at Liverpool. We have yet to know whether the United Board will fully back him, whether the players will buy into 'the Project', and whether he will be able to attract young, talented players. The first thing is to steady the ship, removing players that are a net-negative to the club and create a toxic atmosphere. Ten Hag will need full control over the club transfers, something which seemingly no manager since Ferguson has had at United. Next, the fans have to buy into what he does. I've already seen the likes of Mark Goldbridge telling us who United needs to buy and sell. No. Ten Hag decides that. If he doesn't want DDG or VDB then they go. If he decides Declan Rice is one for the future, United buy him - end of. It might mean a few of the fan favourites go and some of the players the fans hate (Maguire? Shaw?) stay. Who knows? It is a massive undertaking and I am not sure Ten Hag has the ability or the strength to change United.

Depends on whether he gets the power. He has alot of deadwood to remove.

I’m not a united fan but what the board have to do is give him power and put faith in him. Like Klopp it’s worked wonders at Liverpool and the bottom line is it will take as long as it takes to get it right. Corners can’t be cut like previous years.

Against Brentford Mata and Matic regardless of their years and slowness showed what it means to be in the right place, have the ability to retain possession and make good one touch passes. We could suddenly get the ball out of the back. McTominay could run around largely uselessly at CDM. When Fred came on it was the same it's always been. On the occasion that he's been in a position to receive a pass he punts it right back to them and then goes awol on a meaningless run- -boys under pressure at the back have to punt it up the wing to make ronaldo, sancho elanga fight for scraps. Why no one seems to see this as a massive problem is beyond me. Freds stats may make good reading but if you applied value to actions like passing, touch possession and runs you'd see him as the calamity he is

Here after the first 4 pre season games under ten hag, straight away we can the difference in the way United play. Things are looking good. Hope this is the beginning of something special.

As a Liverpool fan, I will never not find absolutely mindblowing how we got *97 points* in the 18/19 season and *STILL FINISHED 2ND*

Sounds nice but the winning starts at the very top. FSG wanted to win, and have a sporting pedigree, primarily with baseball. They found their man in Klopp and gave him the tools to be successful. Sheikh Mansour wanted to win, and has built up City (in every aspect from training ground, to facilities, to just everything), found their leader in Pep, and gave him the tools to be successful. Glazers care more about money than winning. I hope he sticks around as 3+ teams going for the title would be great, but if the Glazers don't let him work (they won't) he'll be out of a job and we'll be having the same conversation in 2025.

Outstanding and outrageous at this moment in time

realistic is just trying to get to competing for 3rd. City and Pool are just another level dont think they can be touched anytime soon. Getting 3rd/4th in 2 seasons and then consistently there after is the current goal.

Will X at place A achieve what Y achieved at place B? The answer, generally, is no.

I don’t usually agree with Neville, but he’s spot on this time 💯

Erik ten Hag' s main task will be to unite all players of Manchester United. That was also Erik's main task at Ajax and that is what he achieved. Ajax became a team with al players focused on each other. We will see that Manchester United will become a united team. I sincerely hope that Ajax will keep playing as instructed by Erik ten Hag!!!!!

He has a chance but the odds are against him. He will need time and that is something you dont get at big clubs

The guy has a tough job on his hands, but lookin at what Jurgen Klopp has done at Liverpool, in the years he has been there, theirs hope!

ETH will be great but what klopp did was an unbelievable thing.

Klopp brought a shared confidence Liverpool hadn't seen for 30 years. You can't really match up to that. I'd loved to have seen Klopp against Ferguson and Wenger though.

klopp did it with balanced books, negative net spend before konate I believe which is outrageous and a manager of utd can’t be compared to that

Imagine comparing Erik Ten Hag to Jürgen Klopp laughable. Look at job Klopp did at Borussia Dortmund won back to back league titles and reach Champions League final. Jurgen Klopp was already world-class manager before getting Liverpool job.

The Question is will he get the time like Klopp it wasn't an over night job he was back and had to make some sacrifices and took 3 years before the delivering actually began. It didn't take Pep over night to get City clicking either Wigan Athletic in fa cup shock in his first season

No one can do a klopp but klopp 😅

No he won’t. Klopp had already proved even before getting the job at liverpool that he can challenge big clubs with limited ressources, guy won 2 bundesligas against bayern, went to a champion’s league final with players nobody knew about. He discovered the likes of lewa, gotze, reus, sahin, hummels, klopp is different level

Think we'll need atleast 8 new players. We need players with high work rate and good fitness.

What Klopp did better than most managers ive seen come into the Premier League from abroad; Is manage media expectation from the off brilliantly. He managed both media and fan expectation in his first press conference better than anyone ive ever seen by just being simply honest. We need time, stay off our backs was his message. It worked and he achieved what he said he would.

Roy - "They can't be any worse next season surely..." That didn't age well 😂😂😂

I can’t see United winning a title with Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp in the same league. City and Liverpool are way too good

2nd last season wasn't the achievement it looked like. Arsenal were in turmoil, Liverpool lost all 3 senior CB for vast majority of the season, Lampard was in charge of Chelsea and City only got 86 pts compared to champions points previous 3 seasons were 99, 98 and 100 and think Chelsea was 94 year before that. They all got excited about being 2nd and not noticed points n results situation, you hadn't improved just everyone else was having problems.

I'm a Manchester United fan but Kloop it's different, stric yet charismatic that combination not every manager has it.

SELL MAGUIRE THE MINUTE YA GET IN EtH

can’t help but think of the similarities between klopps development at liverpool with arteta’s at arsenal

I swear, this has happened with all managers appointed at Utd. If Mourinho can't make this team special again, then Ten Hag, who isn't better than Mourinho, probably hasn't got much hope either.

This will the first that we will have a manager who has a proper attacking philosophy.

All I want is good technical football that helps us compete. I think Ten Hag can do that if players get on the same page.

Good luck to Ten Hag, he's going to need it! 😂

I think it's very possible. He's a very good manager, and if given time and freedom to do what ever he wants in terms of transfers and everything else that concerns management, then he can get United to the top. Let's be aware that Klopp came in 2015 and only started winning trophies in 2019 (The Champions League). Of course things were already promising a year or 2 earlier for Klopp. If Ten Hag is given enough time, he can completely get this team back to winning ways. The only issue is that, United is one of those clubs that can never give their managers too much time to succeed. They would give you time, but not too much. So Ten Hag needs to get ready, because it would not be easy.

What I would add to the points made is that United didn't let players leave when they wanted to and those players made the dressing room toxic (players like Lingard, Pogba, Van de Beek)

Neville is deluded. The reason utd finished 2nd was not because they improved, it was because Chelsea were going through a transition period and LFC first team were all injured.

Klopp had an executive and recruitment team that laid the groundwork and then was fully behind him for the Liverpool rebuild. Does anyone really think ManU has anywhere near that structure right now? After they almost completely ignored Ole's wishlist over last summer?

Respect to Ronaldo he’s prime example after losing his baby son my heart goes to him , on other end of team if they had heart passion Ronaldo has maybe they would have achieved a lot better with in the league , Ronaldo going threw traumatic situations at home still plays with passion scores goals not letting anything affect his playing mentally physically, Legend CR7 , Bruno is another I like his attitude for the game rest just no passion all about the money 💰 life style pride ego , probably better players in the supporters would give there all to play in that shirt with no money involved!!

I really hope it works out

Ten Hag needs to do a Ten Hag

I give you to reasons why he won’t 1.He’s not klopp he’s not as good as klopp 2.If ten hagg said in the summer I want max Aaron’s from Norwich do you think the glazers and the recruitment would agree to the transfer

So Klopp finished 8th in his 1st season. Why was Pep so heavily criticized for finishing 3rd in his 1st season?

The answer is simple. Our front three in 2019 season scored (only Rashford, Martial, Greenwood) combined for a total of 44 goals out of 66. The front three since then has not been that impressive. A single problem that has remained an issue since forever is the defense. So, we definitely want an authoritative CB and a good left footed winger like Ziyech

Chelsea changed manager and Liverpool were injury ravaged and no fans so that certainly helped getting second in my view. All that changed this season and teams figured out Ole was one dimensional. Give to star players and see if they can do something

Back when Klopp joined Liverpool, he was treated like another “Rafa Benitez.” No one expect him to win treble. I feel bad for Ten Hag if everyone expects him to be another “Sir Alex.”

Mata still show the high class, Amazing

All you should ever expect from any team is a clear trend of improvement over time.

Klopp’s job was harder in the sense that we were worse then than united are now and United spend a lot more money. But ETH’s job is harder in the sense that the top teams now are *way* better than the top teams of 2015-16 when Klopp joined Liverpool. I mean, that was the season where the ‘top’ teams were so bad that Leicester won the league, with a points total that City and Liverpool have already beaten with 4 games to spare. Second place that year got 71 points, that wouldn’t even guarantee you top 4 anymore. Klopp of course has had to overcome Pep’s Man City to win the title, but the early days of his rebuilding came in an era when English football was significantly weaker than it is right now. With Klopp signing a new deal and Pep likely to follow suit, it’s going to be very difficult for Utd to catch up anytime soon

Ten Hag will have most difficult task, as there will be expectations from the whole football world, and there will be teams like Liverpool and Manchester City to beat. When Klopp started to built, there were no such dominating club. Unless Liverpool and Manchester City has some bad luck in next few years, winning the league would be very difficult for any 3rd club.

everyone keeps pointing out that United got 2nd last year, whilst ignoring the fact that Liverpool and City had a huge drop-off last season. I always felt both teams would be back to pushing for 90 pts, which wld leave the other sides (like United) in the dust. it was an aberration season, not any indication of United making progress.

Yeah fan must be patience for at least 18 months at the mean time results hav to be positive on course ..their playing style must be spot on...good scouting is the most important aspects.. hope player will raise their bar btw I m loverpool fan ... It's not fun playing with Manchester utd right now😏😏😏

The management needs to allow Ten Hag to mould the team into his image and philosophy. Either his way or the highway for those who refuses to follow him. Klopp had to kick out the primadonnas and jokers, even tho their the best at their position (case in point, Mamadou Sakho). The management must respect the coach and never undermines him. That's how you build a sustainable championship team.

No. Utd into the "Houllier" years, except without the cups. Utd have no chance of PL while Klopp and Guardiola are in post. They only got second under Ole at the wheel because Klopp had his first 5 CB injured. lpool playing henderson and Fabi at CB.

Having Lingard, Rashford, Maguire, Mctominay, Fred, Matic, Mata, etc still on the books really does sum up Manchester United over the last 10 years. They wouldnt get in any other starting line up in PL.

We need to buy 2 CBs. Timber is almost a done deal. It'll be good to buy a decent cb from a small team who could develop and who has good mindset who can be used as a rotation option and if any one of first team defenders are injured or suspended. The one who could step up on those time is a great addition to the team.

Jurgen had been successful against Bayern Munich in a competitive league. Ten Hag has been successful in a 1 team league when he was in the Bayern Munich team of the Dutch league

That needs 5 years of rebuilding….that’s impossible with current Utd fanbase patience level!

keane was spot on in his comments teambuilding is the key

What Jürgen Klopp did in his first 6 months and this goes un-noticed was focus on training and implementing a system and a system that works and still works. Yes it evolved with better players but the nuts and bolts of that system are the same as they were back in 2015. What he then did with the assistance of the data analysis department at Liverpool was identify players that would both improve and conform to his system. He didn't focus on superstars and reputations. He was laughed at for signing Hull and Southampton players and a "Chelsea reject" in Mo Salah. So the recruitment was excellent and his system which is just as important works superbly. His main job was to ensure that system became second nature and to constantly evolve it. It's alot more precise and patient than it was back in 2015/16 and less crash bang, wallop. That comes with better players but the seeds of the system of high energy, hard pressing and squeezing the life out of the opposition remain intact. So the fundamentals are there but it has evolved with the right players for the right system.

At this point i could not say *how* *many* *coaches* MU send into early retirement since Ferguson . I think it was five or six ? Not really sure about it . . . Every-time a new one arrives it is the same Expectations > Depression > Anger until a another one is rumored to come .

Erik ten Hag's Ajax got knocked out of the Europa by Getafe in 2020 , couldn't beat Atalanta in 2021, and hasn't beaten a team with a significantly higher transfer budget since that streaky run to the CL semis in 2019 when his Ajax choked on a 2 goal lead at home against Spurs. This season they went out to a limited Benfica side with a similar budget to themselves losing 0-1 at home. I don't understand where these expectations are coming from. He has no experience of football outside Holland as a player or coach beyond a couple of years with Bayern reserves. In fact he has a track record of underperformance. The last two hyped up Ajax managers to try and make it elsewhere were Frank de Boer and Peter Bosz who have both failed to live up to expectations elsewhere. Ten Hag has developed no notable talents beyond their expected level, despite having rated youngsters such as Ihatteren available. De Jong and De Ligt were not his players and left after his first year, with the resulting fees being largely wasted on flops, many of whom already left the club again like Mazarin, and unimaginative signings of Dutch players from middling clubs in other leagues. Players who seemed ready to take it to another level such as David Neres saw their careers stalling and going nowhere. Personally he has a reputation as a strange, quiet, uptight guy who doesn't put players or staff at ease. He is awkward, uncommunicative and intense. His training sessions are supposedly decent according to former players although these days there aren't many former Ajax players with much experience of really high class coaching to compare him with. But isn't a head coach supposed to be more than just a good coach? So yeah good luck lads. The comparison with Klopp at Dortmund, who developed so many of the stars of the next generation, achieved such extraordinary things against the odds, and has always been known as an emotional and intelligent leader who inspires love and loyalty in players, staff, and fans alike, seems completely ridiculous. If that's what you are expecting you have got a massive disappointment on the way.

Well Klopp had a mid season start so he knew which players he should keep and sell at the start of his full first season. Ten Hag does not have that luxury to implement and tinker with his squad because he is under pressure to finish in the top four in his first season..

When you have players more interested in off field antics than doing what they are paid to do, that's where the problem needs addressing.

Ten Hag feels closer to Mourinho than Houlier, he is joining a club with finances to boost his team into a world beater in a very short period of time. While Klopp and Pep have the same grasp on the league that Wenger and Sir Alex did. It depends on how he goes about doing his business. If he goes for mega money stars that bring about a instant injection of quality, then he should be judged more on instant results. If instead he focusses on building the clubs academy, rebuilding a play style, focusing on creating strong fundamentals for the club finances, then he should probably be judged more on how well the team is regularly competing for major honors.

Listen, Man United might not thank me but get the contract out, put it on the table. Let him sign it, let him write whatever numbers he wants to put on there, given what he's done since he's come in. RANGNICK'S (Ole 3.0) at the wheel, man. He's doing it. He's doing his thing. MAN UNITED ARE BACK!!!

I think Ten Hag has a tougher job. The players Rodgers actually wanted were ones suited to Klopp. We didn't have the best squad but had many suited to the pressing style. Rodgers rejects were the same rejects under Klopp. Anyway let's hope United keep on failing so enjoy it while Utd are poor.

Carragher has grown in to a very honest and rational football pundit.

I’ll come back in 30 minutes to witness the comment section. United and Liverpool fans will square off ..

Will another pundit put down Neville constant "Ole finished second" nonsense

The reality the dynamics are totally different there's so much pressure at United than there was at Liverpool when Klopp took charge at Liverpool. United's pedigree or brand still sits pretty much higher than that of Liverpool because they are one of the most supported clubs globally despite their blushes. And that on its own makes managing United a massively difficult task. When the German took charge they had not won the league in 26 years. And a club that massive would surely welcome any recommendation from the manager whether its players overhaul or wholesale transfers coming in to bolster the squad. Which is not the case at United because they have had recent success with Sir Alex Ferguson almost a decade ago.

The owners at Manchester United have neglected every aspect of the club behind the scenes from top to bottom. That’s what Ten Hag faces, compared to Klopp who came into a club that was clearly investing the right way behind the scenes e.g., in scouting and analysis.

Neville whenever United are poor: “There’s something deeper in the dressing room that is the problem.” Can’t we just accept that Maguire, AWB, Lingard, Rashford, Dalot, Bailly, Fred, McTominay are dogshit? Some of them start for United week in, week out. Get better players and a better youth scouting system. Greenwood’s the best footballer they’ve produced in God knows how long and now he’s gone. Such a lacklustre side.

All the managers are talented somehow and that's why they're at this level. It all boils down the support they're given from the club. Klopp was given an ultimate decision making authority which any United manager never will. So the chances of doing a Klopp is very unlikely at United.

We need some decent center back and need another holding midfielder

By nature if he has a similar season to Klopps first the hate he will receive will be immense, liverpool weren't amazing but played a style, neville and the crew will be like 'its not about styles, its about winning games'.

Klopp inherited a relatively stable club, so the foundations he had to work with were fairly strong. From there he improved the recruitment and tactics of the team. Ten Haag on the other hand, is getting a basket case of a side that’s going to require a major restructure before they even get close to being the team they were under Ferguson.

I am a United fan but carragher is absolutely correct, whether you win or lose good managers make their teams show the pattern they follow Then they change the players and then theyy succeed Few Pandits say keep the patience keep the patience but it doesn't work

I have to agree with Gary Neville about there being something deeper making the players not perform...I remember Mourinho lashing out about that before he left...

He will if the club follow his lead and the fans don’t jump on his back.

He will do no such thing. The hype is too much, I get the optimism but let's all be honest will he have all that time like Klopp had.

Is it me, or did Gary sound like he was making a stadium announcement as he was talking to the guys?

Not many people will agree with me but Roy Keane is the type of character we need at United now. I really hope someone sees that and involves Roy Keane in the coaching setup to some capacity