Erik ten Hag is saving Manchester United from themselves

Erik ten Hag's opening year-and-a-half at Manchester United could have gone a lot more smoothly than it has.

For United supporters, it must be difficult not to get yourself down when it appears each month throws up another controversy between a player and manager. The first and most high-profile instance of this happening came in November 2022 when Cristiano Ronaldo took it upon himself to air his grievances to Piers Morgan in front of TV cameras.

It was a major first test for Ten Hag's strength in his position and he passed with flying colours cutting ties with Ronaldo soon after the full interview went live. In the months which have followed, we have seen the Dutchman continue to lay down the law.

ALSO READ: Ten Hag breaks silence on Sancho and Antony

ALSO READ: Sancho open to leaving United

These range from the relatively minor disciplinary issue for Marcus Rashford after he was late for a team meeting to what we are currently seeing unfold with Jadon Sancho. Now, we will all have our own opinions on whether we would have gone out in a press conference and openly called out the winger's performances in training.

It is perfectly valid to think this was a harsh overreaction from Ten Hag, who should have perhaps kept the matter behind closed doors. But, it is also right to remember the predicament the Reds found themselves in prior to the boss' arrival.

Under Ralf Rangnick, all sense of authority had gone firmly out of the window as players clearly turned on the interim manager as soon as it became obvious he would not be appointed full-time. The mocking of United staff members to the press was entirely out of order and was a sad indictment of where the club was at.

No surprise, then, that Ten Hag was told by United