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Pre-season games usually don't have any motivation for the top clubs to win the game. Yes, I agree that in this match both teams gave one hundred percent of their abilities. But this is not the first time a top team from the English league has lost to a mediocre team. I think Manchester United really made this a game to test a lot of different tactics. Rosenborg scored a goal late in the game so I think both teams played very well. But a defeat is still a defeat and Ten Hag also said that this was not the performance United should have.
From Ten Hag’s statement at the end of the match, it clearly shows that they’re are in dire need of reforms in the club before the new season begins. This match has made him seen a lot of mistakes that needs to be corrected in the team before the new season will start. A mediocre team winning them should not be an excuse whatsoever not to do their best in the game and assume it’s a normal thing in football. A final minutes goal is still a goal and the victory was given to them in the end. They could have as well avoided that goal and finish the game in a draw. I have a feeling that Ten Hag will do well next season, this is still the testing stage of different players and tactics he wished to use for the next season.
I don't think we'll see Manchester United improve much with Ten Hag. We won't even see Manchester United in the top four of the table.
With the help of Ten Hag, we got to see Manchester United perform well in the 2022-23 season. Manchester United was third in the table. So naturally our expectations from Ten Hag in the 2023-24 season were high. But Manchester United's performance has deteriorated badly as we have seen it. We have seen Manchester United's defenders playing badly. Even the performance of the attacking players was very erratic. ten Hag's match strategy was not good, Manchester United's understanding between the players was not good either. So I don't think this team will show any surprises next season.
It seems that Ten Hag needs to work harder for next season, by changing his approach and strategy in managing his players, and most importantly by learning from last season mistakes. It is still too early to judge Manchester United performance, but the first match of the pre season tour yesterday might give us all a little idea that, Ten Hag is not completely ready to turn criticism into praise next season. Before the transfer window closes on August 30, Ten Hag must be able to prepare Manchester United ideal squad, a squad capable of competing in the top four of the standings.